San Bernardino Police Department's officers made a significant bust during a routine traffic stop on June 27, leading to a discovery of 10,000 pounds of illegal fireworks. The initial stop yielded a substantial quantity of prohibited pyrotechnics and around $5,400 in cash, which is suspected to be the proceeds from illegal fireworks sales, according to a press release from the San Bernardino PD.
Investigations prompted by the traffic stop unearthed even more illicit materials. Officers searched the suspect's home in Phelan and found a 25-foot Conex shipping container, crammed with banned fireworks. An assault weapon, specifically a Draco AK-47-style firearm, was also recovered from the residence, as per the same press release. The suspect has since been arrested on multiple charges, including possession and sale of illegal fireworks under California's laws.
In a separate report by NBC Los Angeles, the San Bernardino PD underscored the dangers associated with the use and sale of illegal fireworks, especially as the Independence Day holiday approaches. Illegal pyrotechnics not only present a danger to individuals but also "pose a significant public safety hazard," the department emphasized.
With the Fourth of July just around the corner, San Bernardino authorities were able to rapidly remove the explosives safely from the home. San Bernardino County Fire personnel and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad were mentioned to have collaborated to safely handle the seized fireworks. The bust happens to come at a time when communities are typically on high alert for the risks associated with illegal fireworks displays.
For further details and inquiries into the incident, Detective Araceli Mata, Public Information Officer for the San Bernardino Police Department, is the point of contact. Mata can be reached at (909) 384-5767, as stated in the official press release.
