Punta Gorda Police Seize Cache of Firearms, Drugs, and Ammunition; Seven Detained

Police officers in Punta Gorda Town made a substantial find of firearms, drugs and ammunition earlier today.  At approximately five o’clock this morning, police officers conducted a search at a residence on George Price Street, Punta Gorda Town where seven individuals were present, including a minor.  During the search, authorities discovered two unlicensed firearms. A Jericho brand firearm wrapped in a grey shirt and hidden under a mattress in one of the bedrooms. In a separate room, officers found a second firearm; an LPJ brand pistol concealed in a black sleeve bag under some clothes.  Police proceeded to show the recovered firearms to the seven individuals and informed them of the offense committed. They were subsequently detained and transported to the Punta Gorda Police Station for further investigation under the charge of “Kept Firearm without a Gun License.” Following the house search, officers extended their operation to an adjacent empty lot on George Price Street, next to the residence. During a search of an abandoned baby stroller near the fence line, a Detective Constable discovered a light green plastic bag containing three separate parcels of suspected cannabis. The total weight amounted to 89 grams. No individuals were located at the scene. The substances were sealed and labeled as found property and deposited at the Punta Gorda Police Station. In a further sweep of the same lot, a Police Constable discovered a black plastic bag hidden among garbage. Inside, officers found 234 grams of suspected cannabis, as well as a green box containing 50 live bronze-colored rounds and an additional 15 rounds tied in a plastic bag, bringing the total to 65 rounds of ammunition. As with the previous find, no persons were present in the area. The drugs and ammunition were also sealed, labeled, and deposited at the Punta Gorda Police Station as found property.