By SDCN Editor
San Marcos, CA–Sheriff’s deputies confiscated a ‘ghost gun’ during a traffic stop in North County on Friday evening, authorities said.
During a routine patrol, deputies spotted a suspicious vehicle around 6:30 p.m. at 202 South Rancho Santa Fe Road in San Marcos. Upon searching the car, they discovered a loaded ‘ghost gun’ along with 48 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Unlike licensed manufacturers, these privately manufactured weapons lack serial numbers or other identifiable markings, making them extremely difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace back to their owners or makers. This anonymity severely hampers investigations and delays crime-solving efforts.
In addition to the ghost gun, deputies uncovered a substantial quantity of illegal controlled substances, including cocaine, ecstasy, fentanyl pills, and psilocybin mushrooms.
Deputies arrested Justin Gioia, 25, Nathaniel Brown, 36, and a 17-year-old juvenile female. The adult suspects were booked into the Vista Detention Facility on multiple drug sales and firearms charges, while the juvenile was released to her parents.
Residents are encouraged to report any neighborhood criminal activity by calling the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office at (858) 565-5200.
