Man arrested in firearm trafficking investigation Saturday afternoon

On Saturday, April 2nd, 2022, at 3:21 pm, members of the Turlock Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) arrested Noel Nazar, 20, of Turlock, in the 2900 block of Crowell Rd, Turlock, after a months-long investigation into firearm trafficking.

No information about the investigation was released, however, the service of a search warrant at Nazar’s residence in the 2700 block of Meadowbrook Ln led to the discovery of six manufactured and fully assembled ghost guns, four manufactured but not assembled ghost guns, an assault rifle, an additional firearm, illegal firearm paraphernalia, illegal narcotics, a large amount of ammunition, over one thousand dollars in cash, and a scale.

A ghost gun is a firearm that is self manufactured that does not have a serial number and has not been legally registered.

“We want to thank our federal partners with the Central Valley Gang Impact Task Force for their continued support with these complex investigations,” said SIU Officer Jake Young. “This type of illegal firearm manufacturing operation poses a clear danger to our community. Our police department is working very hard to keep these firearms off our streets and out of the hands of criminals,” he continued.

Nazar was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of possession of a silencer, possession of a concealed firearm by someone other than the registered owner, converting, manufacturing, selling, or offering to sell a machine gun, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, possession of an assault weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or a person who is addicted to a narcotic, manufacturing, causing to be manufactured, importing, keeping for sale, offering or exposing for sale, giving, lending, or possessing an undetectable firearm, manufacturing, causing to be manufactured, importing, keeping or exposing for sale, giving, lending, buying, or receiving a large capacity magazine, possession of a controlled substance, and selling, leasing, or transferring a firearm without a license.

The investigation remains on-going. Anyone with information that could assist in the investigation is encouraged to call Officer Jake Young at 209-668-6575.