By Ivan Pereira
Suwei Chuang, 36 of 135-11 40 Rd., was arrested Jan. 2 and charged with criminal possession of a weapon after police received information that he was carrying a firearm, the 109th Precinct said. A search warrant for the suspect's vehicle uncovered a AR-15 assault rifle with a scope and 18 fully loaded magazine clips, police said. Authorities later found more weapons and more than 20,000 rounds of ammo, some of which was armor piercing, when they raided Chuang's apartment, police said.”I don't know if you'd like to be sitting in traffic beside a guy with an AR-15 and 800 rounds,” Detective Miles Mahady told a news conference at the 109th Precinct in Flushing, where the suspect was held before arraignment. “With that sort of firepower in the car, it's particularly scary.”Chuang's hoard of weapons included a Belgian-made PS-90 auto machine gun, a 12-gauge shotgun, a 9mm pistol, two rifles, four air rifles and 40 combat knives, according to police. In addition, police found four Kevlar bullet-proof vests and six Motorola police type radios.Officers said Chuang, who was arrested without incident, was not planning a terrorist attack. A police spokesman said he may be a black market arms dealer, but they do not know whom he was selling his cache.Police said they were looking for Chuang's alleged clients. 109th Precinct Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Matthew Wheelan said the incident was a reminder of the danger his officers face on any given day. “It just goes to show you that we don't know what's being these doors,” Wheelan said. “This guy snaps one day and you've got a guy on the streets with thousands of rounds of ammunition.”The investigation was ongoing. Officers said they did not know how Chuang was able to acquire these weapons, some of which are legal with permits, but they said he did not have any authorization to do so.”He's not a licensed agent. He's not supposed to have these weapons,” a police spokesman said.Anyone with information relating to Chuang's alleged arms dealership is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). All calls will be kept confidential.Jeremy Walsh and Stephen Stirling contributed to this article.Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
