Cranston man arrested for possessing illegal gun parts, narcotics

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island State Police said members of their High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force arrested a man in possession of illegal gun parts and synthetic opioids.

According to police, 33-year-old Nolbertico Caba was arrested after RISP, Cranston police and Drug Enforcement Administration officers executed a search warrant on his home.

Officers said they found approximately 532 grams of Xylazine, 103 gams of synthetic cathinone’s, 18 fully-assembled sear switches and an assortment of unassembled sear switch parts.

Rhode Island State Police shared this photo of the sear switches and drugs their seized from Nolbertico Caba.

Police said sear switches are small devices, usually made of plastic or metal from a 3D printer that are used to make a semi-automatic handgun fully-automatic.

Authorities further stated that the device is highly illegal and possessing a switch alone constitutes illegal possession of a firearm.

Officials also said xylazine is a non-opioid synthetic narcotic that is commonly used as a tranquilizers for animals. It has since been identified as being linked to the rising number in overdose deaths around the country.

Caba was arraigned at Kent County District Court and held without bail pending future court dates.

Caba faces the following charges:

• Possession with intent to deliver one ounce / one kilogram of a schedule-five controlled substance (Xylazine)
• License permit required to carry a pistol
• Modifications to semi-automatic weapons
• Possession of firearms while committing a controlled substance violation