Nanaimo RCMP tracked two suspects through much of the city, ultimately seizing a significant cache of weapons along Spencer Rd., near Lady Rose Pl. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

CRUCIAL STOP

Weapons, pipe-bomb and drugs seized after prolonged search

Sep 24, 2021 | 4:21 PM

NANAIMO — An observant general duty officer helped remove a sizeable quantity of weapons from city streets.

Around 9 p.m. on July 25, a Nanaimo RCMP officer spotted a distinctive white Lexus driving near Townsite Rd., with a man well-known to police behind the wheel.

Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW the officer knew the man was a prohibited driver and tracked the vehicle through the city, ultimately pulling the motorist over on Spencer Rd., near Lady Rose Pl.

“A search of the vehicle located a loaded, sawed-off 12 gauge shot gun, rifle and ammunition, shotgun shells and several loaded rifle magazines. In the truck they also found what they believed to be a pipe bomb.”

O’Brien said the officer reported the driver and passenger had switched seats after initially being spotted. The two were arrested without incident.

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Additional units, including an explosives team, was called in with the vehicle taken to a safe area.

The pipe bomb was removed from the vehicle and detonated at a remote location. A small quantity of drugs were also recovered from the vehicle.

The driver, 29-year-old Declan O’Reilly faces multiple firearms related charges. He has an extensive criminal record including multiple firearms, drugs and breach of probation charges.

He remains in police custody ahead of a court date in Nanaimo on Sept. 28.

The passenger in the vehicle was arrested but later released without any charges.

“Our officer astutely found that vehicle, made the effective arrest, knew his authorization to conduct a vehicle search and low-and-behold, this is what he found,” O’Brien said. “To get those firearms and pipe bombs off somebody who is involved in criminal activity is significant.”

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