Bergen County officials announced the arrest of Mr. Matthew W. Moran, 48, of Carlstadt, on charges of Possession Of Prohibited Weapons and Devices, specifically Silencers.
Officials said during an international arms-trafficking investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Special Investigations Squad and Homeland Security Investigations - Newark Field Office, Moran was identified as a person of interest in receiving shipments of suppressors, also called silencers, meant to reduce the sound and muzzle flash generated from a gunshot.
According to Bergen County officials, these illegal silencers were purchased by Moran from a company based in China and smuggled through the mail to his residence in Carlstadt.
On Thursday, October 15, 2020, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Homeland Security executed a search warrant of his residence after Moran took possession of the delivery.
Officials say the search warrant resulted in the seizure of numerous firearms, high capacity magazines, thousands of rounds of ammunition and police issued ballistic vests.
The incident is under investigation.