A southern Alberta man is facing 11 charges, accused of 3D-printing firearms parts in what police believe is a first in the province. Dan Forsyth, 53, of Picture Butte was initially arrested in mid-August.

He now faces charges, including several related to firearms trafficking. When investigators executed a search warrant, they found several 3D printers as well as manufactured firearms parts, including pistol lower frames, an assault rifle receiver and frame, silencers and a bump stock to give a semi-automatic firearm a rapid-fire capability. After the seized parts were sent to the RCMP lab and found to be functional, charges were laid against Forsyth, according to Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT). “ALERT believes this is the first time in Alberta that charges have been laid in relation to the 3D-printing of firearms,” said the policing agency in a release. 3D-printed firearms are sometimes called “ghost guns” because they don’t have serial numbers and are difficult, if not impossible, to trace. “This seizure shows how technology can pose new threats and challenges to law enforcement,” said Staff Sgt. Leon Borbandy with ALERT. Borbandy says the investigation is still active and police are looking at the possibility that previously printed parts have been sold. The officer said past organized crime investigations have turned up similar illegal printed gun parts.  [full article]