11 People Have Been Arrested At Alberta's Coutts Border Crossing & Lots Of Guns Were Seized

Alberta RCMP have arrested and detained 11 people at the Coutts border crossing after receiving information that the group had access to "a cache of firearms with a large quantity of ammunition."

An "immediate and complex" investigation was launched into the group, who reportedly had a "willingness to use force against the police if any attempts were made to disrupt the blockade," RCMP said.

"As a result of this investigation, the Alberta RCMP executed a search warrant during the early hours of Feb. 14, on three trailers associated to this criminal organization. This resulted in the arrest and detainment of 11 individuals," they added.

As a result of the search warrant, RCMP seized 13 long guns, an unspecified number of handguns, multiple sets of body armour, a machete, high capacity magazines and a large quantity of ammunition.

Two further arrests were made in connection with the same border blockade within 24 hours. First, an individual returning to the protest site was stopped by police, and two weapons were seized.

Later that day, Alberta RCMP also reported a separate incident where a semi-truck approached an RCMP check stop north of Milk River and the driver "accelerated and drove towards" officers.

"The driver swerved at the last moment and hit some traffic cones which were on the roadway. The driver was arrested close to the scene for criminal code offences," Alberta RCMP said.

In another incident on the previous day, a farm tractor and a semi-truck that were involved in the blockade "attempted to ram a police vehicle," the Alberta RCMP said.

The driver of the tractor has been identified and officers are "actively working to locate him so he can be taken into custody," RCMP said on February 14. The farm tractor and semi-truck involved in this incident have also been seized.

Protesters have been gathering to impede access to the Coutts border crossing in protest of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for over two weeks. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would invoke the Emergencies Act for the first time in order to handle the ongoing protests across Canada.

The Alberta RCMP said they "will resume efforts to end the illegal blockade" and encouraged protestors to "leave immediately or relocate to the designated site for the legal protest."