22-year-old arrested in San Marcos on suspicion of possession of a “ghost gun.”

SAN MARCOS (CNS) – A 22-year-old man was arrested in San Marcos on suspicion of possessing a “ghost gun,” authorities said today.

Neighbors called police shortly after 11 p.m. Friday to report a group of suspicious people in the 500 block of Spanish Oak Avenue, said Sgt. Nicholas Arvanitis of the San Marcos Sheriff’s Station.

Officers contacted four people standing around a pickup truck, Arvanitis said.

“During contact, a handgun loaded with bullets was clearly visible in the passenger seat,” he said. “It turned out the gun was a ghost gun.”

Tristan Banuelos, the driver of the pickup truck, was arrested on suspicion of carrying a loaded weapon in a public place or street and possessing or possessing a weapon without a serial number, he said.

“Unlike guns made by a licensed manufacturer, ghost guns have no serial number or other identifiable markings,” Arvanitis said.

“The lack of a serial number makes it extremely difficult for law enforcement to trace these firearms back to their owner or manufacturer, hindering or delaying investigations and crime-solving efforts.”