Liberty, N.Y. — A traffic stop on State Route 17 in Sullivan County led to the seizure of 89 illegal firearms — including at least 17 reported stolen weapons — and the arrest of three men accused of attempting to smuggle the guns into Canada, federal prosecutors said Friday.
New York State Police stopped a 2026 Ford Explorer around 6:12 p.m. Wednesday near Exit 98 in the town of Liberty after troopers observed multiple vehicle and traffic law violations. Inside the SUV were Malik A. Bromfield, 22, of Ontario, Canada; Faizan Ali, 25, of Ontario, Canada; and Kamal J. Salman, 22, of Boynton Beach, Florida.
A search of the vehicle uncovered dozens of firearms packed inside luggage and the rear seating area, along with extended magazines, large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, and ammunition of various calibers, according to New York State Police and federal prosecutors.
Federal prosecutors allege firearms were headed to Canada
The arrests quickly escalated into a federal firearms trafficking case after investigators alleged the weapons were being transported out of the United States.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the three men appeared Friday in White Plains federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy, where they were detained pending further proceedings.
Federal prosecutors charged Bromfield, Ali, and Salman with smuggling firearms from the United States, unlicensed dealing in firearms, transporting stolen firearms in interstate commerce, and unlawful possession of firearms. Bromfield also faces an additional charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien.
If convicted, several of the charges carry potential maximum prison sentences of 10 years, while the additional firearm possession charge against Bromfield carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.
K9 alert led troopers to cache of weapons
New York State Police said K9 Kell conducted an exterior sniff of the SUV during the stop and alerted troopers to the vehicle. Investigators then searched the SUV and found the firearms hidden inside an unusually heavy suitcase and elsewhere in the vehicle.
Federal court documents allege troopers became suspicious after the occupants gave inconsistent and evasive answers during roadside questioning.
Investigators also alleged that Ali consented to a search of his person, during which troopers recovered an expired Pakistani National Driving Permit issued to another individual and concealed on his body.
The firearms recovered included multiple makes, models, and calibers. Authorities said at least 17 — and possibly 18 — of the guns had been reported stolen.
Key Points
• New York State Police seized 89 illegal firearms during a traffic stop in Liberty, New York
• Federal prosecutors allege the weapons were being smuggled from the U.S. into Canada
• Three men now face multiple federal firearms trafficking charges in White Plains federal court
Multi-agency investigation expanded after roadside stop
The case rapidly drew involvement from several federal agencies after the firearms were discovered.
New York State Police said the investigation involved coordination with the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, the New York State Police Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
“All three defendants, including two foreign nationals, allegedly endangered our communities as they attempted to smuggle 89 firearms — 17 of which were stolen — into Canada,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said in a statement released Friday.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said the defendants were allegedly transporting “more than 80 guns, including short-barreled rifles and stolen firearms,” when they were stopped in Sullivan County.
“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.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo said illegal firearms trafficking “threatens the safety of our communities and fuels violent crime.”
Case highlights growing scrutiny of interstate gun trafficking
The seizure stands out because of the volume of firearms allegedly being moved through New York and the allegation that the guns were destined for another country.
Federal investigators have not publicly detailed where the firearms were obtained or where in Canada they were allegedly headed. Authorities also have not released a complete inventory of the seized weapons.
After their arrests, Bromfield, Ali, and Salman were transported to State Police Middletown for processing before being turned over to the FBI’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force.
The federal investigation remains ongoing, and all three defendants remain detained following their initial court appearance in White Plains.
New York State Police, FBI, ATF, firearms trafficking, Sullivan County arrests