Police in Russia's Penza Oblast have detained a 54-year-old resident of Bashmakovsky District after discovering a large cache of illegal weapons, ammunition, and drugs inside his home.
The seizure was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on its official Telegram channel. Authorities confirmed that criminal cases have been launched against the suspect under several articles of the Russian Criminal Code.
According to investigators, law enforcement officers searching the residential property recovered three unregistered hunting rifles alongside three spare rifle barrels. Search teams also confiscated 279 grams of gunpowder, three ammunition magazines, three bayonet knives, and a TT-S signal pistol that had been modified into a functional combat firearm.
In addition to the seized weapons, police recovered 189 cartridges of various calibres from the house, 119 of which were custom homemade rounds. Officers inspecting the residence also discovered approximately 100 grams of marijuana.
Suspect Claims Weapons Linked to Hobby
Following his arrest, the 54-year-old detainee explained the presence of the extensive cache to officers by claiming that keeping the weapons was related to his personal hobby of arms collecting. He further stated that he had cultivated the marijuana himself for his own personal use.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that criminal proceedings have been formally initiated against the man under multiple articles of the Russian Criminal Code, covering both illegal weapons possession and drug offenses.
The raid in Penza Oblast follows a separate discovery reported in Saint Petersburg, where a hotel employee uncovered hidden grenade launchers and TNT stored in a building basement.
Regional Location and Legal Regulations
Bashmakovsky District is an administrative district situated in the western part of Penza Oblast, a region in western Russia located within the Volga Federal District, approximately 600 kilometres southeast of Moscow. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, commonly abbreviated as the MVD, operates as the nation's chief civilian police agency overseeing regional law enforcement bodies and criminal investigations.
Under Russian legislation, gun ownership is subject to strict licensing, requiring all hunting weapons and ammunition components to be officially registered with law enforcement authorities. The unauthorized alteration of signal pistols into live-firing firearms and the hand-loading of custom ammunition are illegal under federal criminal law, carrying substantial prison sentences.
