Springfield police seize illegal firearm, drugs, cash after traffic stop

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Police Department’s C3 officers confiscated an illegal firearm, over 500 grams of crack-cocaine, and more than $22,000 in cash after a routine traffic stop on State Street Sunday evening.

At about 5:50 p.m., officers pulled over a vehicle for a defective brake light.

The driver, Aqil Rios-Thomas, 20, exited the car in a parking lot and was detained for not having a driver’s license.

Police then discovered a loaded gun in a bag beside front seat passenger Josiaha Ayala, 19.

The rear seat passenger, Samantha West, 39, from Newport, was also removed from the vehicle as the investigation continued.

Officers recovered $3,200 from Rios-Thomas and $3,000 from Ayala.

The search of the car yielded additional ammunition, marijuana, $16,500 in cash, and a gun safe, which was unlocked using a key found on Rios-Thomas.

Inside the safe, police found large bags of crack-cocaine.

In West’s purse, more crack-cocaine and a double-edged knife were found.

The total amount of crack-cocaine seized weighed approximately 588 grams, with the cash totaling $22,853.

All three individuals were arrested and face multiple charges.

Ayala is charged with firearm and drug offenses, including carrying a firearm without a license and trafficking in cocaine.

Rios-Thomas’s charges include cocaine trafficking and operating a vehicle without a license.

West faces charges for cocaine trafficking, drug possession, and carrying a dangerous weapon.