A Grande Prairie woman has been arrested for firearms straw purchasing after an investigation by Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT). 

ALERT’s Grande Prairie organized crime and gang team alleges that Misty Kohuch lawfully acquired multiple handguns, which were then sold on the criminal market. The 37-year-old woman was arrested on October 1, 2019, with the help of Grande Prairie RCMP.

Kohuch purchased five handguns since July 2019, including one on the morning of the date of her arrest. ALERT had concerns the recently purchased handgun would be re-sold, and arrested Kohuch while she was still in possession of the firearm.

Kohuch was arrested via a traffic stop. Cocaine and fentanyl were also found in her vehicle.

“None of the other handguns have been accounted for, and who is in possession of those handguns should prompt concern from the community,” said Insp. Sean Boser, ALERT Regional teams.

Kohuch has been charged with trafficking a firearm, possession of firearm for the purpose of trafficking, unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, unauthorized possession of a firearm, knowing the possession is unauthorized, possession of drugs and possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

The investigation began in July 2019 after the RCMP’s National Weapons Enforcement Support Team (NWEST) provided information about suspicious firearms purchases.