(04/28/06) NEWARK ? Police in Essex County say they?ve confiscated a weapon that presents serious dangers to law enforcement and security officials around the country.

The weapon, called a Carbon-15, was found during a drug raid in Essex County. Police say in addition to its light weight and small size, the weapon is frightening because it is virtually invisible to X-ray screeners. The screeners have a hard time detecting the weapon because it is made mostly of carbon fibers instead of metal.

The firepower of the Carbon-15 is also a cause for concern among law enforcement officials. Police say the weapon is as powerful as the M-16 assault rifle, the weapon used by U.S. military forces. That type of power is enough to penetrate the bulletproof vests worn by police officers.