San Bernardino Police Department seized over 120 illegal firearms and approximately $600,000 cash stemming from firearms trafficking investigations.
Several concurrent but independent investigations led the San Bernardino Police
Department Special Investigations Units, Narcotics Unit, and the MET team to serve
eight search warrants. The warrants were in connection to ongoing illegal
manufacturing, possession, and sales of firearms in the City of San Bernardino and
surrounding communities.
The combined warrants yielded 129 firearms, primarily illegal ghost guns, modified fully
automatic rifles, assorted ammunition, high-capacity magazines, approximately
$600,000 in cash, and several pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine.
The firearms were manufactured by subjects with illegal storefronts, including a vehicle
repair shop and a gun parts store. These façades served as fronts to an underground
business in which illegal firearms were being trafficked, 3D printers were utilized to build
gun frames and narcotic trafficking occurred.
Illegal guns are not only unsafe due to poor workmanship and quality of products used
to manufacture them, but it also poses a much more significant community risk due to
these guns being openly available to anyone who wishes to possess them.
Undocumented firearms and rifles are often used in the commission of violent crimes
and murders.
In a recent report by the Department of Justice, San Bernardino City ranked in the top 4
for the most illegal firearms seized in the State of California from 2010-2022. The San
Bernardino Police Department has been relentlessly pursuing criminals who threaten
the safety of our citizens. The department has recovered over 1200 guns in the last year
alone.
In reaction to the recent report, Chief Darren Goodman stated, “The subjects that
purchase and possess ghost guns do not do so because they are looking for home or
personal protection. They are not standing in support of the second amendment. The
types of people who purchase these underground illegal guns are doing so because
they cannot legally possess firearms or are unable to pass a background check. The
men and women of the San Bernardino Police Department understand the magnitude
and impact that the removal of these types of illegal firearms has on the safety of our
community. We will continue fighting to make our streets safe for the homeowners and
businesses.”