Cultural appreciation for recreational shooting runs deep in the region.

Mark, former mayor of Dauphin, was arrested during a police search on July 7.

He appeared in court last week on a dozen charges and was released with conditions.

“Illegal trafficking in prohibited weapons is a serious crime that threatens public safety,” RCMP Deputy Commissioner and Manitoba Commander-in-Chief Scott McMurchy said Monday.

“We thank the many RCMP officers working on this case for their tireless efforts to target individuals trafficking these dangerous and illegal weapons and bring them to justice.”

The investigation began in March when police were notified of firearms charges in the United States against another Dauphin area man.

That investigation led RCMP to find and seize firearms allegedly purchased by Mark, which police said “were never legally transferred.”

At least three firearms are believed to have been illegally trafficked and the serial number of one firearm was tampered with, authorities said. They also found more than 300,000 Canadian dollars (£158,000) in cash in the house.

While the motive is unclear, Corporal Barry Kirby of the Manitoba RCMP said at a news conference Monday, “We know he’s a firearms collector, but that’s really all we know.”

Mark was elected mayor of Dauphin in 1994 and lost re-election in 2010.

In parliament, he represented an constituency now known as Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa from 1997 until 2010, when he resigned from the House of Commons.

He has been a member of the Reform Party of Canada, the Canadian Alliance and a Conservative, and ran unsuccessfully for the seat again in 2015 as an independent.