Danger! Illegal “M-Device” Explosives Injure, Kill, and Threaten Our Neighborhoods

PHILADELPHIA – With Independence Day approaching, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Philadelphia Field Division warns Pennsylvanians of the dangers of illegal explosive devices and encourages the public to report their manufacture and sales to protect their community.

“Illegal explosives are extremely volatile and dangerous,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “You put yourself and anyone around at risk of injury or death by just handling them because they can explode on their own.”

“Their manufacture, storage and handling can lead to deadly explosions and fire,” DeGree added. “When you buy them, you’re supporting dangerous criminal activity.”

These dangerous devices, sometimes called M-80s, M-100, M-250, etc., are a particular concern in Pennsylvania, which accounted for more than 15% of all ATF illegal explosive device investigations nation-wide since 2020.

To tackle the problem ATF Philadelphia works with state and local fire and police agencies as well as federal law enforcement agencies like the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to prevent manufacture and sales of illegal explosive devices, and to hold perpetrators accountable.

“Too many people have suffered life altering or deadly explosions because of these dangerous explosives,” said Tim Brooks, a Certified Explosive Specialist Bomb Technician from the Philadelphia Police Department Bomb Disposal Unit assigned to the ATF Philadelphia Arson and Explosives Task Force. He is all too familiar with the danger posed by these devices, whose misuse can be deadly. “These devices are manufactured without safety oversight or quality control. The fillers inside occasionally contain small rocks that when bumped together can cause the slightest spark and set these off!”

As part of its core mission, ATF actively regulates and investigates the illegal use of explosives. Under federal explosives law, it is illegal to manufacture, store, distribute, receive or transport explosive materials without a federal explosives license or permit. Violations are punishable with up to 10 years in federal prison.

It is important to distinguish illegal explosives from regular consumer fireworks. Here are some signs that a device may be an illegal explosive device:

• They are sold in a non-commercial location, such as out of a vehicle or residence.
• The person with the device has no evidence of a receipt or commercial packaging, or they cannot tell you where they originally purchased it.
• The device is often 1-6 inches long and up to an inch or more in diameter.
• The casing resembles a roll of coins with a fuse. Some outer shells are made of cardboard tubes.
• The outer covering is red, silver or brown in color.
• The device looks oddly shaped and wrapped in brown paper that may be filled with an explosive material.

These devices should not be handled if you have or find one. Anyone with such explosives (or items they think may be explosives) should act with extreme care and contact their police or fire departments for guidance. Either call the ATF tip line below or 911 to turn it over. The authorities will coordinate for proper safe handling and disposal.

To protect yourself and your community, ATF urges the public to report manufacturing or sales to your local police or ATF tip line at 888-ATF-TIPS (283-8477), [email protected], www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips, or via the ReportIt® app.

“I wish everyone a happy and safe Independence Day,” said DeGree.

For further information on illegal explosives, visit ATF’s Illegal Explosives page.