Traffic stop in Lee County uncovers huge stash of explosive devices and ammunition

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

A traffic stop in Lee County uncovered a huge stash of explosive devices and thousands of rounds of ammunition hidden inside an apartment complex.

On Friday, the Lee County Sheriff's Office's tactical narcotics unit conducted a traffic stop on Christian Vasconcellos, 47.

During the stop, deputies reportedly discovered methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a firearm, and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition inside the vehicle.

That led to a much bigger discovery when the sheriff's office searched the apartment on Coldstream Drive. They found and removed eight explosive devices, shotguns, handguns, rifles, methamphetamine, firearm suppressors, tasers, and 8,000 rounds of ammunition.

Detectives said Vasconcellos had an active court order prohibiting him from possessing firearms, after being released from custody in Collier County less than a week earlier.

The bomb squad came out to take care of the eight explosive devices found inside. Vasconcellos was then arrested on charges of trafficking methamphetamine and eight counts of manufacturing/possessing explosive devices.

"I'm just thankful no one's hurt. This is a person that could have done very, very bad things here, and because of the great people in this county calling us with tips, we put an end to it," said Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno.

Gulf Coast News also reported last week about Vasconcellos's recent arrest in Collier County. Detectives say security cameras reportedly caught him walking out with bags of cash he was accused of helping steal at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Golden Gate.

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