Men charged after weapons, meth found during unrelated investigation in North End

Loaded sawed-off rifle, meth found during search

Image | Winnipeg Police

Caption: Police unexpectedly came across drugs and guns during a search for robbery suspects Wednesday. (Lyzaville Sale/CBC)

Police unexpectedly stumbled across weapons and drugs while chasing robbery suspects in the North End on Wednesday.
Officers were searching for suspects after an armed robbery at a nearby convenience store around 11:55 p.m. They ran into two men on Alfred Avenue who they say matched the description of the robbers.
The two men were arrested and taken into custody.
Police said they found a loaded sawed-off .22 calibre bolt-action rifle along with ammunition, an airsoft handgun with a silencer and two throwing stars in one of the men's backpacks.
The second man was found with a knife and a little over a gram-and-a-half of meth, police said.
While police now say neither of the men were responsible for the robbery, both face charges.
A 38-year-old man from Winnipeg faces a number of firearms and weapons-related charges, including possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm and carrying a concealed weapon.
A 44-year-old man from Winnipeg is charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of methamphetamine.
Police are still searching for the convenience store robbers.
More from CBC Manitoba: