Former Member of Parliament Inky Mark, previously apprehended on twelve weapons-related charges a month ago, now faces an additional 26 counts as authorities report the confiscation of 445 firearms and 26.5 kilograms of explosives from his residence in Manitoba.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) disclosed that the 78-year-old individual was re-arrested on August 12 following an extensive inquiry. Mark was initially taken into custody during a search of his property near Dauphin, Manitoba, on July 7, leading to his original arrest on a dozen charges related to firearms, including firearms trafficking, possession of a weapon with an altered serial number, unsafe storage of firearms, careless firearm use, and possession of a prohibited device.
Law enforcement officers previously announced the seizure of 439 firearms from Mark’s home in addition to various items such as an antique cannon and ammunition. After analyzing the evidence gathered in July, RCMP determined that a total of 445 firearms were retrieved, with 295 found to be stored unsafely, 10 classified as prohibited, and 11 identified as restricted or prohibited firearms not registered to Mark.
Furthermore, authorities revealed the discovery of 26.5 kilograms of explosives, exceeding the legal possession limit for licensed individuals by more than fourfold. Several of the restricted or prohibited firearms were stored alongside easily accessible ammunition, and two firearms linked to Mark could not be located during the investigation.
Mark now faces a total of 38 charges, with the new allegations encompassing offenses such as weapons trafficking, possession of prohibited weapons, possession of restricted firearms or prohibited weapons with ammunition, and unauthorized firearm possession. Additional charges include possession of a weapon with a tampered serial number, failure to report firearm loss, and possession of more than six kilograms of explosives, primarily Tannerite, an explosive target brand used for firearm practice.
Following the initial charges in July, Mark admitted to CBC News that he had unlawfully transferred three firearms but denied engaging in any trafficking activities. He explained that he had legally collected firearms since the early 1970s, noting that changes in gun laws over time had rendered some of his possessions illegal.
During the search of Mark’s residence, law enforcement also seized over $300,000 in currency, which Mark attributed to property sales in Dauphin, refuting any connection to firearms trafficking. RCMP now allege that between December 2024 and February 2025, Mark visited a friend’s home in response to a social media post about a coyote and provided the individual with a firearm and ammunition without a proper license. The firearm, unused by the unlicensed individual, was later recovered by authorities.
The friend involved in the incident has not faced charges, while the weapons trafficking accusation against Mark is directly related to this occurrence, according to an RCMP spokesperson. Mark, a former Member of Parliament representing the Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa constituency, entered Parliament in 1997 and resigned in 2010 after affiliations with the Reform party, Canadian Alliance, and Conservative party. A failed independent candidate in the 2015 election, Mark previously served as Dauphin’s mayor in 1994 and ran unsuccessfully for re-election in 2010.