On Jan. 23, a police officer with the Southeast District Traffic Unit seized a radio jammer and a Beretta Semi Automatic pistol during a traffic stop on Highway 5 near McLure when a vehicle was initially stopped for speeding. During interaction with the driver the officer noted several indicators that caused him to enter into an investigation under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act. A police service dog was deployed, and subsequent to that the driver was arrested.
A search incidental to arrest located a radio jamming device in the center consol, behind a panel near the gas pedal a Semi Automatic Berretta handgun with an unloaded magazine was also found, as well as a small quantity of marihuana located.
The 30-year-old driver from Surrey faces a number of charges including possession of a jamming device and firearms related offences. He will appear in Kamloops court on April 23.
Radio jammers are unlicensed transmitters set to around the same frequency as GPS signals and/or cell phone signals. They’re designed to transmit random signals with sufficient power to overwhelm and disrupt GPS trackers and/or cell phones.
Police say that would be enough of a nuisance, but since these transmitters are deliberately designed to create havoc, they often go beyond the targeted frequencies and end up shutting down communications for emergency services, wi-fi networks and wireless devices.
The importation, manufacturing, distribution, offering for sale, sale, possession and use of jamming devices in Canada are prohibited under sections 4, 9 and 10 of the Radiocommunication Act.