New York State Police have dismantled a major gun smuggling operation that was allegedly preparing to transport a large cache of weapons into Canada. The bust occurred on May 7, 2026, when troopers stopped a white Ford Explorer on State Route 90 after observing multiple traffic violations.
Traffic stop leads to major discovery
Inside the vehicle were Malik Bromfield, Faizan Ali, and Kamal Salman. Officers noted that the trio gave inconsistent and evasive accounts during the stop. Ali consented to a roadside search, during which authorities recovered a Pakistani National Driving Permit issued to an Afghan national, concealed in his buttocks. A canine unit also indicated the potential presence of narcotics.
However, the most significant find was an unusually heavy suitcase packed with a large cache of firearms. Additional weapons were discovered hidden under the backseat of the vehicle.
89 firearms seized, including stolen guns
In total, 89 firearms were recovered, including at least 17 stolen weapons. According to U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, the defendants were caught transporting more than 80 guns, including short-barrelled rifles and stolen firearms, with the intent to smuggle them out of the country.
“It is critically important to New Yorkers and Americans to keep illegal weapons out of the hands of criminal actors,” Clayton said. “The trafficking of dangerous weapons will be relentlessly pursued by this Office.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. added that the three defendants, including two foreign nationals, allegedly endangered communities by attempting to smuggle 89 firearms into Canada.
Defendants and charges
The three men appeared in White Plains federal court in Westchester County and are being detained without bail. Ali, 25, is a citizen of Pakistan. Bromfield and Salman, both 22, are Canadian citizens; Salman also holds U.S. and Jordanian citizenship.
All three face multiple charges: smuggling from the United States (maximum 10 years), unlicensed dealing in firearms (maximum 5 years), transporting stolen firearms in interstate commerce (maximum 10 years), and unlawful possession of firearms (maximum 10 years). Bromfield is additionally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien, which carries a maximum of 15 years.
Ongoing investigation
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo emphasized that illegal firearms trafficking threatens community safety and fuels violent crime. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division, with Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarlitto leading the case.
Gun smugglers are frequently intercepted in rural New York State along the clandestine Iron Highway route, which is used to transport firearms north into Canada from states with more lenient gun laws.
