A British Columbia man has been handed an eight-year federal prison sentence after police uncovered a sophisticated operation involving 3D-printed firearms and large-scale drug trafficking.
Tyson Saverio Santolla was sentenced on Friday following a CFSEU-BC investigation that revealed he was manufacturing illegal firearms using 3D-printing technology while also trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine.
According to the RCMP, the case stemmed from a year-long probe led by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC), which targets organized crime and serious violence across the province.
Santolla was first arrested in May 2021, when police executed coordinated search warrants at four properties in Abbotsford and Aldergrove. During those searches, investigators seized multiple partially assembled firearms, 3D-printed gun components, prohibited weapons parts, and quantities of illicit drugs.
Court heard that Santolla used commercially available 3D printers to manufacture key firearm components, allowing him to bypass traditional controls on gun sales and registration. Police said the weapons were functional and posed a serious risk to public safety.
Santolla ultimately pleaded guilty to three criminal offences, including possession of a restricted firearm, manufacturing firearms, and drug trafficking.
“The combination of illegal firearms and drug trafficking creates an extremely dangerous situation for our communities,” said Sgt. Sarbjit K. Sangha of CFSEU-BC in a statement following the sentencing. “This investigation highlights the evolving methods criminals are using and the importance of proactive enforcement.”
CFSEU-BC noted that so-called “ghost guns,” which lack serial numbers and are often produced using 3D printers, have become an increasing concern for law enforcement agencies across Canada.
Police say the sentence sends a clear message that manufacturing weapons through emerging technologies will be treated as seriously as traditional firearms offences.
Santolla will remain in federal custody.
