Three men have been charged by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York with multiple offences connected with an attempt to smuggle 89 firearms into Canada. The suspects were taken into custody following a joint operation involving the New York State Police (NYSP), the FBI, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Details of the Arrest
New York state troopers pulled over a rented white Ford Explorer shortly after 6 p.m. on May 7 after observing traffic violations on State Route 90. The driver, Malik Bromfield, 22, a Canadian citizen, along with passengers Faizan Ali, 25, a citizen of Pakistan, and Kamal Salman, 22, a citizen of Canada, the United States, and Jordan, were asked to step out for questioning.
During the roadside interview, troopers noted that the defendants provided inconsistent and evasive accounts, according to a sworn complaint by FBI Special Agent Brian Jennings. A NYSP sniffer dog conducted a sweep of the vehicle's exterior, and a preliminary search revealed an unusually heavy suitcase containing a large cache of firearms. Authorities also found approximately $3,000 in U.S. currency, in $100 bills, in the glovebox.
Charges and Potential Sentences
Each man has been charged with one count of smuggling from the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of unlicensed dealing in firearms, with a maximum of five years; one count of transporting stolen firearms in interstate commerce, with a maximum of 10 years; and one count of unlawful possession of firearms, also with a maximum of 10 years. Bromfield faces an additional charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.
Evidence and Investigation
FBI Special Agent Jennings stated that the quantity and variety of firearms were wholly inconsistent with personal use and instead consistent with trafficking for sale and distribution. Police seized a cellphone from Bromfield, the driver, which displayed an address near Hammond, New York, located immediately across the St. Lawrence River from Ontario, Canada, on a GPS navigation application.
The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court by the FBI, outlining the charges. The operation underscores the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat cross-border gun smuggling.
