Chinese comedian Zhou Libo arrested in Long Island for allegedly possessing gun, drug

Chinese comedian Zhou Libo (C) and his lawyer (L, Front) prepare to leave after Zhou was released on bail at Nassau District Court, the United States, on Jan. 20, 2017. Chinese comedian Zhou Libo has been arrested in Long Island, New York, for alleged illegal possession of a firearm and drug. Zhou, 49, and the passenger, Shuang Tang, 30, are charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Nassau County police said in a press release sent to Xinhua Friday morning local time. Zhou is also charged with Mobile Phone Use While Driving. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, Jan. 20 -- Chinese comedian Zhou Libo has been arrested in Long Island, New York, for alleged illegal possession of a firearm and drug.

Zhou, 49, and the passenger, Shuang Tang, 30, are charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Nassau County police said in a press release sent to Xinhua Friday morning local time.

Zhou is also charged with Mobile Phone Use While Driving. They will be arraigned on Friday at First District Court in Hempstead.

According to the release, the two men were stopped at 12:07 am Thursday because their Mercedes-Benz was "being driven erratically and the operator was using a cell phone" on Bayville Road in Lattingtown.

During the investigation a black handgun holster was seen on the rear seat of the vehicle, it said.

Upon further investigation, a loaded Colt MKIV Mustang.380 pistol was recovered along with two clear plastic bags containing crack cocaine, it said.

Both occupants were placed under arrest at the scene without incident, it said.