The gun is similar in style to an Uzi, state police said.
WEST SPRINGFIELD - State police arrested five men after a fully loaded Tec-9 sub-compact machine gun was found hidden under one of the seats inside their Chevrolet Impala.
Trooper Brian Gladu, who is attached to the Springfield barracks, said Trooper Matt Stone pulled the 2007 Impala over in an area off Interstate 91 and Route 5 for an alleged marked lanes violation just before 12 a.m. on Saturday.
He said Stone searched the car and found the gun. No one claimed ownership, so all five occupants - Christian Baiza, 17; Alexander Cirino, 18; and Winston Meijas, 19, of Philadelphia; along with Kevin Colon, 18, and Jose Espinosa-Dejesus, 27, of Holyoke - were charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of a machine gun, possession of ammunition without a license and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.
All five men were being held Saturday; they will be arraigned Monday in Springfield District Court.
Gladu said the gun is similar in style to an Uzi.
"It's a dangerous, dangerous gun," Gladu said, adding it was good to get it off the streets.
Espinosa-Dejesus was driving the car and also was charged with marked lanes violation, state police said.