The elite Canadian SOF unit JTF-2 is exposed to a public scandal after it was acknowledged that one of its soldiers have stolen military gear and sold it online. The soldier, who was identified as Cpl. Pedro Collier faces expulsion from the service as a result.
He has recently pleaded guilty to stealing supplies — including gun parts — and selling them online. The Canadian military is weighing his fate. Collier was hit with five criminal charges, including theft and possession and trafficking of stolen goods.
He received a suspended sentence and one year of probation during an appearance in an Ottawa court on Aug. 28, a spokeswoman for the Department of National Defence said.
“As a result of this conviction, the [Canadian Armed Forces] is conducting an administrative review of the member’s file to determine the most appropriate administrative action to be taken,” said Jessica Lamirande. “This includes various measures up to and including release from the [Canadian Armed Forces].”
The thefts took place at the main base of Joint Task Force-2 (JTF-2) between December 2015 and March 2017. The HQ is located at Dwyer Hill, near Ottawa. Among the items stolen were C7 gun parts, a generator, batteries, clothing, ballistic sunglasses and cleaning supplies.
Canadian Military Police released the statement where they informed the public that those items were returned after Collier was confronted about the thefts last year. But before he was caught, Collier managed to sell a solar charger, a military jacket, a GPS device, and other military equipment online, with a total value of about $4,600. That stuff was not recovered.
Military police, working directly with special forces command, received an anonymous tip in March 2017 after items started appearing for sale on various internet sites. The file was handed over to the criminal investigation branch of the Canadian Armed Forces a few weeks later. The charges against Collier were filled on Oct. 28, 2018.
According to the sources, the general rules for the storage and verification of equipment in JTF-2 were followed in this case.
