Suspicious package at NY's Kennedy airport leads to seizure of 39 guns from Connecticut home

Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant on Apr 28, 2026

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HARTFORD, Conn. — Police seized more than three dozen firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition from a home in Branford after an investigation that began when a package containing a firearm suppressor was intercepted at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The package was intercepted on April 21 and was addressed to 46-year-old Alexander Oranzo of Branford, according to the Branford Police Department.

Police said the package was shipped from China and was marked as containing an automotive filter. Investigators found a firearm suppressor inside and noted that Oranzo is a convicted felon prohibited from having guns or firearm accessories, according to police.

Branford police said they became involved after being notified about the package by the Department of Homeland Security. Officers came up with an “operational plan” before a “controlled delivery” of the package was carried out at Oranzo’s home on North Main Street, according to police.

Investigators searched the home after the package was accepted, reportedly finding a “significant cache of weapons and contraband,” police said. Of the 39 guns that were reportedly found and seized, three of them were considered assault weapons; 28 of them were long guns; and eight of them were handguns, including one which was reported as stolen, according to police.

Police also reported seizing five suppressors, 58 high-capacity magazines, three sets of body armor and several thousand rounds of ammunition. According to police, detectives also allegedly recovered about eight ounces of marijuana, unspecified quantities of alprazolam and methadone, materials consistent with ammunition manufacturing and a “large quantity” of Tannerite, a binary explosive that can be used for target practice. The Tannerite was safely removed by the New Haven Police Bomb Squad.

Oranzo was taken into custody and arrested on numerous charges. He was charged with 58 counts of possession of a high-capacity magazine, 39 counts of criminal possession of a firearm, eight counts of criminal possession of a pistol or revolver, five counts of criminal possession of a silencer, three counts each of criminal possession of body armor and possession of an assault weapon, two counts each of unsafe storage of firearms and possession of narcotics outside its original container and a single count each of possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of a controlled substance and possession of over five ounces of marijuana.

Oranzo was held on a $200,000 bond pending an arraignment hearing. This investigation remains ongoing.

“Branford Police would like to thank the New Haven State’s Attorney’s office, New Haven Police Bomb Squad and Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance,” the police department said in a statement.

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