A 39-year-old Staten Island man was taken into custody at Newark Liberty International Airport after Rochelle Park police say detectives uncovered a stash of 12 firearms, including altered assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, inside a Howard Avenue home during a Jan. 10 search. Authorities identified the man as Arthur Christian and say Port Authority officers held him at the airport until Rochelle Park police arrived to make the arrest. The guns were turned over to the Bergen County Sheriff’s ballistics unit while detectives continue to trace who owned what. Police say criminal charges tied to unlawful possession and prohibited devices are moving forward as investigators work through the evidence.
What officers say they found
Responding to a Jan. 10 call, Rochelle Park officers say they discovered 12 firearms inside the Howard Avenue property, many fitted with high-capacity magazines and several altered into assault-style configurations, according to Daily Voice. Detective Sgt. Jared Shatkin and Detective Nick Mercoun launched the follow-up investigation and submitted the weapons to the Bergen County Sheriff’s ballistics unit for testing. Police reportedly could not locate the homeowner at the time of the search and later sought warrants in connection with the case.
How New Jersey law treats the hardware
New Jersey law classifies possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines as a criminal offense. The state defines a large-capacity magazine as a container that can hold more than 10 rounds and makes unlawful possession a fourth-degree crime, with limited exemptions for certain law-enforcement uses and registered firearms, according to the New Jersey State Police. That framework underpins the counts authorities say were filed here, including charges tied to prohibited devices involving high-capacity magazines. If convicted, defendants face penalties set out in state statute while prosecutors decide whether to pursue any additional charges.
Airport arrest and charges
On Monday, Port Authority Police told Rochelle Park officers that the suspect was in custody at Newark Liberty International Airport. Local police then took Christian into custody and brought him to the Bergen County Jail, according to Daily Voice. Police said Christian faces four counts of unlawful weapons possession and seven counts related to prohibited devices. Authorities have not publicly said whether any of the seized firearms are linked to other investigations.
Guns, airports and a bigger pattern
The case also highlights how airport encounters can spin into larger weapons probes. Transportation Security Administration data show Newark set a record for firearms intercepted at its checkpoints in 2024, and thousands of guns are caught at U.S. airport checkpoints each year, most of them loaded, according to TSA. TSA guidance stresses that firearms must travel in checked baggage and be declared to the airline, and that civil penalties can follow when travelers do not follow the rules. Local detectives and prosecutors often treat airport arrests as a starting point for broader investigations when recovered weapons raise questions about trafficking or illegal modifications.
Rochelle Park officials say detectives are still processing evidence and expect to release more information once ballistics testing and ownership checks are completed. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rochelle Park Police Department. Authorities have not issued further public comment.
