Canadian police announced on Monday that they discovered several hundred firearms during a search of a former legislator’s residence.
The weapons were found in the possession of Inky Mark, who served 13 years as a member of Canada’s Parliament, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba. Officers described a substantial cache uncovered in the raid: over 400 firearms, ammunition, and an antique cannon.
Authorities also recovered more than 300,000 Canadian dollars in cash, equivalent to roughly US$213,000.
The 78‑year‑old Mr. Mark was arrested at his Dauphin, Manitoba residence and faces a dozen firearms‑related charges, including trafficking and illegal possession. In Canada, firearm ownership is regulated at the federal level.
A self‑described conservative, Mr. Mark previously served as mayor of Dauphin before being elected to the federal parliament for the riding, a role he held from 1997 to 2010.
The motive behind Mr. Mark’s extensive arsenal remains unknown, and he was not available for comment on Tuesday.
‘At this time we do not know his motivation for possessing so many firearms,’ said Corporal Barry Kirby of the RCMP on Monday. ‘We are aware he is a firearm collector, but that appears to be the extent of it.’
Corporal Kirby noted that Mr. Mark had no prior police record. The search of his home followed a March connection to an investigation involving another individual facing firearms charges.
Corporal Kirby stated that officers seized 439 firearms. Authorities suspect that at least three of the weapons were illegally trafficked and that one bore a altered serial number. Kirby added that documenting the evidence will likely take several weeks.
Photos released by police on social media Monday depicted stacks of confiscated guns and a dusty black cannon resting on a bright‑green wheeled carriage, all taken at Mr. Mark’s home.
Mr. Mark appeared before a Dauphin court last week and was subsequently released, authorities confirmed.
Mr. Mark, who worked as a businessman and teacher, held parliamentary seats for several right‑leaning parties, including the Reform Party, the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance, the Progressive Conservative Party, and the Conservative Party of Canada.
During his tenure, he was a vocal advocate for lawful gun ownership.
In recent years, Canada has tightened firearm regulations, banning most assault‑style weapons and freezing handgun sales. Federal police data indicate there are roughly 1.25 million registered firearms nationwide.
Nevertheless, initiatives aimed at assault‑rifle owners have proved divisive in provinces such as Manitoba, where hunting remains a cherished rural tradition. Manitoba officials have opposed the federal gun buyback scheme, contending that it is inefficient.
Authorities also warn that the smuggling of American firearms across the border is on the rise, contributing to increased gun violence in Canada.
