Guns and gangs the focus at Saskatoon trial stemming from firearms trafficking investigation

The case began with a traffic stop on Saskatoon's east side and ended with police seizing ammunition and illegally modified firearms on the other side of the city, in a storage unit on Wanuskewin Road.

Prosecutor Andrew Clements says he expects to show jurors how the police guns and gangs unit tied an illegal firearms operation to Corey Amber Paddy.

Paddy is on trial at Saskatoon Court of King's Bench, charged with eight firearms-related offences. On Monday, a jury of six men and six women heard Clements open the Crown's case with an overview of the anticipated evidence and witnesses.

Members of the guns and gangs unit will detail their firearms trafficking investigation, Clements said. It will include photos of the weapons and parts they seized, video surveillance from the storage unit on Wanuskewin Road, and audio recordings of conversations between Paddy and a co-accused.

In a 2020 news release, police described pulling over a grey half-ton truck on Arlington Avenue.

"An open bottle of liquor was located inside of the vehicle and the man was arrested without incident. In his possession, police located two baggies of methamphetamine and cash. Following a search of the vehicle, officers located an axe, a sledgehammer, four knives, two sawed-off rifles, ammunition, baggies of meth and cocaine and further evidence relating to drug trafficking," the release said.

"Search warrants were later executed at a residence in the 1000 block of Avenue H North and a storage locker in the 3900 block of Wanuskewin Road. Investigators with the guns and gangs unit seized six more firearms, firearm parts, ammunition and further evidence of drug trafficking."

Clements said he expects to call five witnesses. The trial is scheduled to run all week.