New York [US], May 10 (ANI): Three individuals, including a Pakistani national, have been arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle 89 firearms, including at least 17 reported stolen, from the United States to Canada.

In an official release issued by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York on Friday, the arrests followed a traffic stop on Thursday by New York State Police along State Route 90.

Officers observed inconsistent responses from the occupants during questioning, leading to a search that uncovered a large cache of firearms, including additional weapons in the backseat. According to the release, the accused 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 accused were later presented before a US Magistrate Judge in White Plains federal court and detained.

Ali was also found carrying an expired Pakistani National Driving Permit issued to another individual.

The three individuals are charged with multiple offences, including smuggling from the United States, unlicensed dealing in firearms, transporting stolen firearms in interstate commerce, and unlawful possession of firearms. Bromfield faces an additional charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien.

The maximum statutory sentences for these offences range from five to 15 years in prison, though sentencing will be determined by the court.

The arrests were announced by US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton; FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C Barnacle, Jr; and ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo.

'As alleged, the defendants were caught transporting more than 80 guns, including short-barreled rifles and stolen firearms, to smuggle them out of the country,' Clayton said.

FBI Assistant Director Barnacle added that the three defendants, including two foreign nationals, endangered communities by attempting to smuggle the firearms into Canada.

ATF Special Agent DiGirolamo emphasised the threat of illegal firearms trafficking to public safety.

The investigation involved a coordinated effort between the NYSP Troop F Community Stabilisation Unit, the FBI's New York Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, and the ATF. The prosecution is being handled by the White Plains Division of the US Attorney's Office, with Assistant US Attorney John Sarlitto leading the case. (ANI)