With Homeland Security Tip-Off, Police Charge Man With Scores of Firearm Offenses, Ammo-Making Material: PD

BRANFORD, CT — The Department of Homeland Security Investigations notified Branford police that a suspicious package was intercepted at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The package, shipped from China and declared as an automotive fuel filter, was found to contain a firearm suppressor, police said. The intended recipient was identified as Alexander Oranzo, 46, of Branford, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing such items, police said.

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"Branford Police officers developed an operational plan and conducted a controlled delivery of the package to Oranzo’s residence on North Main Street," police said. "After the package was accepted, a search warrant was executed."

According to police, during the search, officers located and seized a significant cache of weapons and contraband, including 39 firearms (three assault weapons, 28 long guns, and eight handguns – one confirmed as stolen), five suppressors, 58 high-capacity magazines, three sets of body armor, cache of weapons and contraband, including 39 firearms (three assault weapons, 28 long guns, and eight handguns – one confirmed as stolen), five suppressors, 58 high-capacity magazines, three sets of body armor, and several thousand rounds of ammunition.

Detectives also found "materials consistent with ammunition manufacturing and a large quantity" of (explosive) Tannerite, which was safely removed by the New Haven Police Bomb Squad, police said.

Also recovered was a quantity of cannabis, Alprazolam and Methadone, authorities said.

Oranzo was taken into custody without incident and was charged with the following offenses:• 39 counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, 3 counts of Criminal Possession of Body Armor, 58 counts of Possession of High Capacity Magazines, 2 counts of Unsafe Storage of Firearms, 5 counts of Criminal Possession of a Silencer, 3 counts of Possession of an Assault Weapon, 1 count of Possession of a Stolen Firearm, 8 counts of Criminal Possession of a Pistol/Revolver, 1 count of Possession of a Sawed-Off Shotgun, 2 counts of Possession of Narcotics Not in Original Container, 1 count of Possession of a Controlled Substance, 1 count of Possession of Over Five Ounces of Marijuana.

Oranzo was held on a $200,000 bond pending arraignment.

This investigation remains ongoing.

In a Facebook post, Branford police thanked the New Haven State’s Attorney’s office, the New Haven Police Bomb Squad, and Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance.