Officers with ALERT said Thursday that five Edmonton men were in custody following a firearm trafficking investigation that saw a number of firearms seized.

ALERT said the two-month investigation focused on a criminal network trafficking firearms.

On September 23, 2016, eight firearms were seized after four search warrants were executed in west Edmonton. Three rifles, five handguns, body armour, silencers and a crate of various rounds of ammunition were seized.

It’s alleged the firearms were being purchased legally, and then fraudulently supplied to criminal networks in the Edmonton-area. In some cases, the firearms were altered and defaced before being sold on the black market.

The serial numbers on a number of firearms had been removed, and in one case, a Norinco CQ 5.56 rifle had been converted to shoot fully automatic.

In total, 107 charges have been laid against five people: Silas Armich, 38, Adrian Barnes, 38, Desmond Rock, 36, and Justin Shipowich, 38, who were arrested on September 23, James Pike, 38, was arrested October 18.

Charges range from firearms offences, including firearms trafficking, to providing false statement.