Guns stolen from Richland County seized by New York police during drug bust
Police found guns stolen in Richland County more than 800 miles away during a drug bust Wednesday.
The Albany Police Department in New York said it found three guns reported stolen from Richland County after officers raided two homes run by a drug dealer.
The guns were a .357-caliber revolver, a .40-caliber handgun and a .22-caliber pistol.
In November, The State reported on one gun that had been been stolen or illegally traded and used in six crimes, including two homicides, across South Carolina. As gun thefts and a black market for trading firearms have risen in Richland County, so have shootings.
The discovery in Albany shows just how far stolen guns can travel and the types of crimes they may be used for.
The Albany Police Department was investigating 39-year-old Rickardo Smith on suspicions that he was dealing drugs, according to the agency. Wednesday, police raided the home and found 400 grams of cocaine, hydrocodone pills, oxycodone pills, OxyContin pills and MDMA, sometimes call Ecstasy. Officers also found six loaded handguns, including the three stolen in Richland County, the agency said. The police seized several rounds of ammunition and firearm supplies as well.
After the raids, the department arrested Smith and charged him with 17 gun offenses, three counts of having stolen property and two drug possession offenses.
Albany is the capital of New York and has a population of about 100,000 people, according to the U.S. Census, which is close to the population of Columbia.
This story was originally published February 4, 2022 at 3:16 PM.