Costa Mesa traffic stop turns up assault rifle, body armor, ghost gun and 20 pounds methamphetamine

A Costa Mesa police K-9 squad helped recover 20 pounds of methamphetamine, weapons, ammunition and other contraband items from a vehicle last week after a routine traffic stop, officials reported.

The incident occurred Wednesday, when officers engaged a vehicle in a traffic stop at an undisclosed location, according to CMPD spokeswoman Roxi Fyad, who said Monday an open investigation into the incident was still pending.

Officers conducted a search of the vehicle, which resulted in the seizure of an assault rifle with a drum magazine, ammunition and a fully loaded “ghost gun,” among other contraband.

Ghost guns — firearms assembled from homemade, or 3-D printed parts that do not possess registered serial numbers — are becoming increasingly problematic for area police and sheriff’s departments as they are virtually impossible to trace.

Under the direction of K-9 Bodi, police canines sniffed out the vehicle and soon located approximately 20 pounds of a white powder substance determined to be methamphetamine.

Body armor was also located inside the vehicle, and one individual was arrested on scene police, officials reported. No further details on the incident were available Monday.

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