Three men, including a Pakistani citizen, have been charged for allegedly trying to smuggle 89 firearms from the United States into Canada, at least 17 of which were reported stolen, authorities said.The arrest was made after New York State Police conducted a traffic stop along State Route 90 on Thursday, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.Officials said police became suspicious after receiving inconsistent answers from the vehicle’s occupants during questioning, leading to a search of the vehicle. Authorities allegedly seized a large number of firearms, including other weapons concealed in the back seat.The defendants were identified as Malik Bromfield, 22, a Canadian citizen; Faizan Ali, 25, a Pakistani citizen; and Kamal Salman, 22, a citizen of Canada, the United States and Jordan.The three were later brought before a federal magistrate judge in White Plains and ordered detained.Authorities also claimed Ali held an expired Pakistani national driving license issued in someone else’s name.The defendants face multiple charges, including smuggling from the United States, dealing in firearms without a license, transporting stolen firearms in interstate commerce and unlawful possession of a firearm. Bromfield also faces one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien.According to prosecutors, the maximum statutory prison terms for these charges range from 5 to 15 years, but the final sentence will be determined by the court.U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, FBI Assistant Director James C Barnacle Jr and ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo announced the arrests.“As alleged, the defendants were caught transporting more than 80 firearms, including short-barreled rifles and stolen firearms, and smuggling them out of the country,” Clayton said.Barnacle said the defendants, including two foreign nationals, allegedly attempted to bring weapons into Canada and endanger public safety.DiGirolamo also warned of the threat posed by illegal gun trafficking.The investigation was a joint effort by the NYPD’s Community Stabilization Unit F, the FBI’s New York Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, authorities said.
