A months‑long investigation into illegal 3D‑printed firearms has led to the dismantling of a clandestine manufacturing lab and the arrest of a Surrey man, according to the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia.
CFSEU‑BC’s Illegal Firearms Enforcement Team launched the investigation in March 2026 after identifying a suspect believed to be producing 3D‑printed guns and uploading digital schematics. Police say the online distribution of firearm‑making data falls under Criminal Code s.102.1 — a 2023 law unique to Canada that targets the spread of files used to manufacture illegal weapons.
On April 2, investigators arrested the suspect and, with assistance from the Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team, executed a search warrant at his Surrey residence. Inside, officers found what they describe as a fully equipped clandestine firearms‑manufacturing operation.
Seized items included:
- Clandestine firearms lab with tools and components
- A loaded 3D‑printed semi‑automatic rifle
- Six 3D‑printed handguns
- Four suppressors
- A 3D‑printed handgun receiver
- Several 3D‑printed magazines
- Three 3D printers and filament
- Electronic storage devices, laptops and cellphones
- A homemade test‑firing station
Sgt. Sarbjit K. Sangha said the case underscores the growing threat posed by 3D‑printed weapons, calling them “unregulated, untraceable, and increasingly accessible.”
The investigation remains active, and charges will be recommended once the forensic and digital‑evidence review is complete.
