Two Men Busted with AK-47s, Handgun, Drugs in Newark, New Jersey

Police in Newark New Jersey recently arrested two men accused of illegally possessing firearms, including two AK-47 guns and a small handgun.

According to law enforcement, the arrested were made a short time before 9:00 p.m. outside a local housing complex in Newark, NJ.
Newark NJ police investigated the suspects after receiving word that they were engaging in illegal drug activity at the Grace West Manor housing complex. Police eventually decided to send detectives to the area to stake out the building, which is located on Irvine Turner Boulevard in Newark, New Jersey.

Detectives with the Newark Police Special Enforcement Bureau positioned themselves on the perimeter of the housing complex and waited for the suspects to step outside. At some point, the suspects allegedly walked out of the building and began to talk to each other. Newark police officers noticed that the suspects were in possession of weapons, so law enforcement moved toward the men.

The suspects reportedly spotted the police officers and immediately threw their weapons into a nearby shed before attempting to flee the scene on foot. Police quickly apprehended one of the suspects.

The second suspect was able to get inside the housing complex, where he allegedly tried to hide out in an apartment. Members of the Newark Police Emergency Response Team soon arrived at the scene and forced their way inside the apartment. The suspect was subdued and placed under arrest.

Meanwhile, Newark law enforcement searched the area outside the housing complex and allegedly discovered two AK-47s and a 9mm handgun. Police officers also allegedly found 142 packets of heroin when searching the suspects.

Both suspects are 30-year-old males from Newark, New Jersey. They have been charged with numerous crimes, including illegal possession of a handgun, heroin possession, and resisting arrest.

If the suspects are convicted on the charges of unlawfully possessing assault weapons, they would be subject to severe criminal penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5, a person who illegally possesses a semi-automatic weapon or any weapon that can be converted into an assault firearm can be charged with a second degree felony. A conviction for second degree illegal possession of an assault weapon could lead to a sentence of 5-10 years in NJ State Prison.

Anthony Ambrose, the Newark public safety director, recently issued a statement about the arrests. Ambrose commended the Newark detectives and police officers who captured the two suspects. Ambrose also highlighted the fact that Newark NJ police have made Newark a safer place for residents by removing more than 300 firearms from city streets in 2016.

Busted with Ak-47’s, Drugs in Newark NJ

For additional information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “2 AK-47s, Heroin Seized in Newark Drug Arrests, Police Say.”