Former Member of Parliament Inky Mark, who faced a dozen weapons charges last month, now confronts an additional 26 charges following the discovery of 445 firearms and 26.5 kilograms of explosives at his residence in Manitoba. The 78-year-old was reapprehended on August 12 as part of an ongoing investigation by the RCMP.
During a search of his home near Dauphin, Manitoba, on July 7, Mark was first charged with 12 weapons-related offenses, including firearms trafficking, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, unsafe firearms storage, careless use of firearms, and possession of prohibited devices. Law enforcement authorities disclosed that a total of 445 firearms were seized from Mark’s property, with 295 being improperly stored, 10 classified as prohibited, and 11 categorized as restricted or prohibited firearms not registered to Mark.
In addition to the firearms, 26.5 kilograms of explosives were confiscated from Mark’s residence, surpassing the legal possession limit for licensed individuals. Several restricted or prohibited firearms were found alongside readily available ammunition. Two firearms registered to Mark could not be located.
A total of 38 charges have now been brought against Mark, including weapons trafficking, possession of prohibited weapons, possession of restricted firearms or prohibited weapons with ammunition, possession of unauthorized firearms, possession of firearms with tampered serial numbers, failure to report lost firearms, and possession of excess explosives.
Following the initial charges in July, Mark admitted to illegally transferring three guns but denied engaging in firearms trafficking. He explained that he has been lawfully collecting firearms since the 1970s, though changes in gun laws have rendered some of his weapons illegal. Mark also clarified that the substantial amount of cash seized from his property was proceeds from real estate transactions in Dauphin and not linked to firearms trafficking.
The RCMP alleged that between December 2024 and February 2025, Mark visited a friend who had posted about a coyote on social media and handed them a firearm and ammunition without solicitation. The firearm was later recovered by investigators, having not been used by the recipient.
Mark, a former Member of Parliament representing the Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa district, entered politics in 1997 and resigned in 2010. He served with various political parties, including the Reform party, Canadian Alliance, and Conservatives. Unsuccessful in regaining his seat in 2015 as an independent candidate, Mark previously held the position of Dauphin mayor in 1994 and made a failed bid for the mayoralty in 2010.