A recent incident in Union City, New Jersey, has led to the arrest of a 43-year-old woman named Claudine Kammo. Following a tip-off from the New York City Police Department, detectives from the New Jersey State Police seized 100 stolen guns and 200 large capacity ammunition magazines from a storage unit in North Bergen. Kammo is now facing charges of second-degree unlawful possession of firearms, third-degree receiving stolen property, fourth-degree violation of gun permitting regulations, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of large capacity magazines.
The confiscation of 100 stolen guns and 200 large capacity ammunition magazines is one of the largest recent seizures of weapons in New Jersey. The possession and sale of firearm magazines that are capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition are prohibited under New Jersey law. Large capacity magazines are detachable ammunition magazines used in semiautomatic firearms that are capable of holding more than the average number of rounds of ammunition.
According to state Attorney General Matthew Platkin, the New York City Police Department initially contacted the New Jersey State Police on March 16 with information about a shipment of guns and ammunition believed to have been stolen during transfer from tractor trailer to rail car in Hudson County. Through a joint investigation, law enforcement determined that the stolen weapons were being kept in a storage facility on Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen owned by Kammo.
Platkin stated that “keeping illegal weapons out of our communities to combat gun violence is a law enforcement strategy that transcends state lines.” The arrest of Kammo and the seizure of stolen weapons and ammunition is a significant step towards ensuring the safety and security of communities in the region.
The charges against Kammo are serious and carry significant penalties. Unlawful possession of firearms, receiving stolen property, and violation of gun permitting regulations are all punishable by imprisonment and fines. In addition, unlawful possession of large capacity magazines is a fourth-degree offense, which can result in up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
