Three people, including a Pakistani national, have been charged in the United States for allegedly attempting to smuggle 89 firearms, at least 17 of which were stolen, from the US to Canada, authorities said.The arrests were made after New York State Police conducted a traffic stop on State Route 90 on Thursday, according to a statement issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.Officials said the officers became suspicious after receiving inconsistent answers from the occupants during questioning, following which a search of the vehicle was initiated. Officers reportedly recovered a large cache of firearms, including additional weapons hidden in the back seat.The accused were identified as Malik Bromfield, a 22-year-old Canadian national; Faizan Ali, 25, a Pakistani national; and Kamal Salman, 22, citizens of Canada, the United States and Jordan.All three men were later presented before a federal magistrate judge in White Plains and ordered detained.Authorities also alleged that Ali had an expired Pakistani National Driving Permit issued in the name of another person.The defendants face multiple charges, including smuggling from the United States, unlicensed trade in firearms, transportation of stolen firearms in interstate commerce and illegal possession of firearms. Bromfield faces an additional charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien.According to prosecutors, the charges carry a maximum statutory prison sentence of five to 15 years, although any final sentence will be determined by the court.The arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. and ATF Special Agent in Charge Brian DiGirolamo.“As charged, the defendants were caught carrying more than 80 guns, including short-barreled rifles and stolen firearms, for smuggling out of the country,” Clayton said.Barnacle said the accused, including two foreign nationals, endangered public safety by allegedly attempting to bring weapons into Canada.DiGirolamo also warned about the threat posed by illegal firearms trafficking.Officials said the investigation involved a joint effort between the NYSP Troop F Community Stabilization Unit, the FBI’s New York Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
