Cops seized a shocking stockpile of high-powered weapons during a raid on an alleged cocaine distribution center in a Bronx apartment, authorities said Thursday.
During a search of the Villa Ave. home of suspected gangster Victor Miri, police found a small amount of drugs but an arsenal of 12 firearms, including five assault weapons, according to the city's Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
Miri, 29, and his brother, Tonin Miri, 30, were arrested on gun and drug possession charges after the Wednesday raid.
The eye-popping bust was the result of an investigation by the NYPD's Manhattan gang unit.
It also turned up a frightening array of extended magazines and boxes of ammunition, night vision goggles, binoculars, a bullet proof vest and M-80 explosives with fuses and detonator caps, cops said.
Most of the weapons were discovered in a suitcase in the bedroom of the apartment, they said.
The police also recovered small amounts of cocaine and marijuana and all the equipment necessary to operate a drug ring: four high-tech scales, an electronic money counter, a cocaine grinder, a vacuum seal presser and small plastic bags.
The alleged gun-packing drug runners were arraigned yesterday in Manhattan court on a slew of charges, including criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of marijuana and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
Victor Miri, the suspected ring leader, was held on $200,000 bail.
His older brother, who has spent time in a federal prison and was released in 2008, had his bail set at $10,000 bond and $5,000 cash.
Their lawyer, Stacey Richman, described the brothers as "hardworking individuals" and "solid members of the community."
Richman said Victor Miri is employed as a bookkeeper at an accountant's office and his brother is a union laborer.
The seized weapons have yet to be tested and may not be operable, argued Richman.
"I don't think people should make assumptions about these men," she said.
"I think that night vision goggles are really cool. There's no problem if anybody wants to buy night vision goggles."
Richman said the brothers' next court date is March 17.
SOURCE
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