CALGARY -- Calgary's bloody gang war has lost a major player to the clink, a man nabbed with his girlfriend who each face 40 weapons-related charges.

Tien Ngoc Ho, 21, was arrested last week and sources say he's a "high-ranking" member of Fresh Off the Boat Killers, a gang whose blood feud with another faction, Fresh Off the Boat, has claimed more than 20 lives since 2001.

Given the fearsome arms cache unearthed during the arrest of Ho and Lovely Mary Jiminez, also 21, police believe they may have averted another gangland shootout.

"The investigators in our organized crime unit described it as a 'kill kit' -- when these guys want to get rolling and get out and about, everything is ready to go," Staff Sgt. Gord Renke said of weapons and paraphernalia found in the home of the couple, who have children.

"The people involved in this gang lifestyle, with the number of shooting incidents that have been occurring, they know their targets."

Ho has been a victim of the bloodshed, the target of a June 2005 shooting on Centre St. at 40 Ave. N., sources said.

The huge bust began when police officers searched a high-end SUV in the 6400 block of Macleod Tr. on March 11.

Scrutiny of the vehicle yielded two loaded 9-mm Glock handguns stashed in a secret compartment, both are restricted weapons and one was loaded with an illegal extra-capacity magazine.

As a result, cops then searched a home on Panorama Hills Rise. N.W., where the amount of seized weaponry grew.

Five more guns were found, all with bullets in the chamber, one reported stolen out of Surrey, B.C., yet others fitted with an illegal silencer and laser-sight.

The guns were stored in the garage of the home in a backpack placed in a pile of children's toys and cops were further shocked to find a bulletproof vest stashed in a child's nursery.

"Where these items were located, an infant could have accessed them and with the high-calibre rounds in the chambers ... even a child could have picked them up and quite a bit of harm could have resulted," said Renke.

Renke could not comment on the status of any kids found in the home, but confirmed Alberta Children and Youth Services was involved.

Police continue to investigate the origin of the weapons, including tests to see if any of the guns -- some with their serial numbers filed off -- were used in previous crimes.

Both of the accused remain in custody pending their next court appearance March 24.