Gun and cash found in traffic stop
A minor traffic stop for failure to wear seat belts resulted in the confiscation of $14,000, a rifle and several clips of ammunition Wednesday night on the West Side, according to Operation Impact state troopers.
Omar Rosa-Alamo, 31, the driver, and his passenger, Irving J. Ruiz, 30, both of Buffalo, were pulled over on a Niagara Street ramp to the Niagara Thruway, according to State Police Sgt. Joseph F. Mullen.
When troopers found a small amount of marijuana in the men’s possession, a further search of their vehicle turned up a box in the back seat containing 93 $100 bills and 94 $50 bills in addition to other denominations.
The gun and ammunition were found in the trunk, troopers said. The pot, currency, rifle and ammunition were turned over to the Buffalo Police Department.
Rosa-Alamo and Ruiz were taken to the Erie County Holding Center and processed before being issued an appearance ticket for unlawful possession of marijuana. They are scheduled to appear at 9:30 a. m. Thursday in Buffalo City Court.
Mullen said Buffalo police plan to continue the investigation into how the men came to possess the large sum of cash and the weapon.
During a second traffic stop for failure to wear a seat belt, troopers Wednesday night arrested Ramon J. Serpa, 39, of Buffalo, at Niagara and Hampshire streets as he tried to destroy crack cocaine, authorities said.
He is in the the Holding Center on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence and trying to smuggle in prison contraband after jail deputies found a crack pipe in a body cavity, Mullen said.
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