An undercover operation led to a search warrant at a storage facility located in the 200 block of West Capitol Expressway, in San Jose on June 16. About 1,320 pounds of dangerous fireworks and explosives were found at the site.
A week before the July 4 holiday, San Jose police said recent undercover operations had led to the seizure of more than 3,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and dozens of explosive devices around the city in recent weeks.
Three suspects were arrested in the operations targeting illegal commercial-grade fireworks, at two homes and one storage unit.
The most recent busts came on Monday, when police carried out search warrants at two sites, seizing more than 2,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and more than 50 improvised explosive devices.
Police started about 11:30 a.m. Monday at a location on the 200 block of San Antonio Court, where a man was detained. A search of his car and home turned up about 730 pounds of illegal fireworks and IEDs.
Another search warrant was carried out Monday evening in the 2700 block of Tanglewood Drive, where about 350 pounds of dangerous fireworks, including multiple IEDs, were found in an accessory dwelling unit. Police also uncovered a stockpile of about 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks, also containing numerous IEDs.
Police also allegedly found a short-barreled AR-style rifle with a 3D-printed lower receiver, a second AR-style rifle, and a substantial quantity of rifle and handgun ammunition.
The two suspects arrested Monday are David Benito-Carbajal, 31, and Juan Rocha, 52, on suspicion of multiple felony offenses related to destructive devices and illegal fireworks.
Another fireworks bust came last week, when police served a search warrant on June 16 at a storage facility in the 200 block of W. Capitol Expressway.
About 1,320 pounds of dangerous fireworks and explosives were found at the site, police said.
Officers went undercover, posing as buyers, to find suspects selling commercial-grade fireworks and destructive devices.
Javier Martinez, 26, was identified as a suspect and he was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on multiple felony charges related to the possession, sale and transportation of destructive devices and illegal fireworks.
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