Peel police seize record number of illegal guns this year, 1 on average every 36 hours, chief says

December 17, 2024 Canuck

Peel Regional Police say they have seized a record number of illegal firearms this year and that the increase represents a “significant” risk to public safety.

Chief Nishan Duraiappah told a news conference in Mississauga on Tuesday that police seized 205 firearms so far in 2024, a total of 62 more than were seized in 2023, when 143 firearms were recovered.

“This surge in illegal firearms in Peel, and not just unique to Peel, but in the GTA, I’m telling you, this is a significant threat to our communities. We are seizing more firearms than we ever have,” he said.

In a news release on Tuesday, Duraiappah said: “On average, we are seeing an illegal firearm seized by our officers every 36 hours.”

Peel Region has also seen an increase in shootings, carjackings and home invasions this year, he added.

The new numbers come as Peel police push for their largest budget increase ever. Peel Region council has asked police to reduce their budget request for 2025, saying their proposed increase of more than $100 million would require too much of a hike on municipal property tax.

Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah on Thursday, September 15, 2022. — Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah, pictured here on Thursday, September 15, 2022, said in a news release on Tuesday: ‘On average, we are seeing an illegal firearm seized by our officers every 36 hours.’ (Cole Burston/CBC)

Duraiappah said Peel police have a Strategic and Tactical Enforcement Policing (STEP) team, made up of about 15 members,focused on reducing gun and gang violence in the region.

This year, the team seized 53 firearms, 63 magazines and 915 rounds of ammunition, more than double than the number of firearms seized by the team last year and more than triple that of 2022. Of the 53 illegal firearms seized by the STEP team, 41 have been traced back to the U.S. and the remaining 12 are still being traced, police said in the release.

“These are the tools for violence,” Duraiappah said.

Duraiappah said the seizures have led to 50 arrests, 461 charges, and 40 drug-related charges. Of the 50 people arrested and charged, 25 have been released from custody, while 15 were already before the court facing charges and 31 had previous conditions.

Solicitor general calls on Ottawa to keep U.S. guns out

Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, who also spoke at the news conference, called on the federal government to improve its border security to prevent guns from the U.S. from coming into the province.

“We know that almost every single illegal gun used in an illegal activity anywhere in Ontario traces itself back to the other side of the border,” Kerzner said.

Peel police newser 1 — Peel Regional Police, along with provincial officials, speak to reporters about illegal firearms at a news conference in Mississauga on Tuesday. (CBC)

The federal government on Tuesday promised a range of measures to strengthen 24/7 surveillance of the Canada-U.S. border — including outfitting the RCMP with helicopters, drones and mobile surveillance towers and creating a new joint “strike force” to go after organized crime. It’s unclear to what extent the plan would reduce guns coming from the U.S. into Canada.

Kerzner said the Ontario government has been calling for tougher border measures for more than two years. He said it is renewing its call for increased public safety measures by the federal government.

“Step up your measures at the border. Make the investments you need to make so that these illegal guns don’t find their way back here.”

Graham McGregor, Ontario’s associate minister of auto theft and bail reform, told the news conference that too many young people in Peel Region are being lured into street gangs.

“Scumbag hardened criminals target our youth and introduce them to a life of crime,” McGregor said.

“This can be a gateway to serious organized criminal activities like auto theft, human trafficking, the illicit gun trade, drug trade and gun trafficking.”

McGregor said one of the primary goals of the STEP team is to disrupt and dismantle gang activity by targeting the root causes of crime and focusing on high risk individuals. He said the STEP team is making strides in reducing gang-related violence.

“Those efforts not only help to reduce crime, but they also enhance the safety and the well-being of our communities,” McGregor said.

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