Police Uncover Assault Rifle, Other Illegal Handguns During Credit Card Skimmer Investigation In Brooklyn

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- A police tip turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg.

Detectives who were investigating reports of credit card skimmers ended up uncovering a stash of guns including a loaded AK-47, CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported.

The AK-47 assault rifle is so powerful that is can easily pierce through a steel board. The results can be potentially devastating.

"What makes this rifle so dangerous is the ability to shoot automatically as long as you hold the trigger back the gun will fire," NYPD Detective Robert Gasperi of the Firearms and Tactics Section told CBS2.

During an exclusive demonstration at Rodman's Neck Firing Range in the Bronx, Gasperi showed just how much damage deadly weapons can cause, and how dangerous they can be in the hands of a criminal.

"This is a threat not only to the police department who are responding to the scene, but even to the neighborhood itself, even an accidental discharge could go through a building," he explained.

On Tuesday night, the NYPD confiscated a loaded AK-47 along with five other illegal handguns and more than 200 rounds of ammunition after being tipped off about an illegal credit card operation out of an East Flatbush, Brooklyn apartment.

Police also found credit card skimming devices, forged credit cards and thousands of dollars in cash.

They arrested a man and two women in the bust, they are facing charges for weapons, forgery devices, and stolen property.

NYPD officials told CBS2 they're seeing more people involved in these types of financial crimes with lethal weapons like AK-47s.

"There's drug cartels, there's organized crime, the way they can smuggle in drugs, they can smuggle in illegal guns," Gasperi said.

Now the NYPD is working harder than ever to keep illegal assault rifles off the streets. Officials said they confiscate assault rifles about once a month.