Pakistani national arrested in New York after 89 guns seized in Canada smuggling bid
Synopsis
A routine traffic stop on a New York highway near the Canadian border unravelled an alleged 89-gun smuggling operation, after a fake Pakistani driving licence concealed on suspect Faizan Ali's person tipped off state troopers. Seventeen of the weapons were stolen, and all three suspects — including two Canadians — now face federal charges.
Key Takeaways
Faizan Ali, 25 , a Pakistani national, and two Canadians — Malik Bromfield and Kamal Salman , both 22 — were arrested in New York on gun smuggling charges.
Troopers seized 89 firearms , of which 17 were stolen , from a Ford Explorer SUV on a highway near the Niagara region.
A fake Pakistani driving licence issued to an Afghan national, concealed on Ali's person, triggered the search that uncovered the weapons cache.
All three suspects were produced before Federal Magistrate Judge Judith McCarthy and detained.
Canada outlawed the sale and transfer of handguns in 2022 and several firearm categories in 2024 , making US-sourced gun smuggling a growing cross-border threat.
A Pakistani national and two Canadian co-accused have been arrested in New York after state troopers intercepted a cache of 89 firearms — 17 of them stolen — allegedly being smuggled into Canada. The breakthrough came when a fake Pakistani driving licence hidden in the suspect's body during a routine traffic stop alerted law enforcement to the larger operation.
How the Smuggling Bid Unravelled
New York State troopers pulled over a Ford Explorer SUV on a state road connecting to a federal highway leading to Buffalo near the Niagara region — a known corridor to Canada — after observing traffic violations. The three occupants gave evasive and contradictory answers to questioning, according to prosecutors.
Suspect Faizan Ali, 25, a Pakistani national, agreed to a search, during which a trooper recovered a Pakistani driving licence issued to an Afghan national that had been concealed on Ali's person. The discovery of the document prompted troopers to deploy a police dog, which indicated the presence of contraband. A heavy suitcase containing the 89 firearms was subsequently found in the vehicle.
The Accused and Charges
Alongside Ali, troopers arrested two Canadians — Malik Bromfield, 22, and Kamal Salman, 22. All three were charged with attempting to smuggle firearms into Canada by New York Federal Prosecutor Jay Clayton. They were produced before Federal Magistrate Judge Judith McCarthy in a suburban New York court and detained.
James Barnacle Jr., an Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Assistant Director, said:
Point of View
The more profitable the smuggling corridor grows. The concealment method — a fake foreign licence hidden on the suspect's person — points to an operation that was organised, not opportunistic. With 17 of the 89 weapons already reported stolen, the supply chain almost certainly extends beyond these three individuals. Federal prosecutors and the FBI will need to trace the source network if this arrest is to amount to more than a single interdiction.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the New York gun smuggling case?
Three men were arrested: Faizan Ali, 25, a Pakistani national, and two Canadians, Malik Bromfield and Kamal Salman, both 22. They were charged with attempting to smuggle 89 firearms into Canada after a traffic stop on a New York state road near the Niagara region.
How did New York troopers discover the firearms?
During a traffic stop for violations, a trooper found a fake Pakistani driving licence — issued to an Afghan national — concealed on Faizan Ali's person. This prompted a police dog search, which indicated contraband, leading to the discovery of a heavy suitcase containing 89 firearms.
Why is gun smuggling from the US into Canada a growing problem?
Canada has strict federal gun laws, including a ban on handgun sales and transfers introduced in 2022 and restrictions on several firearm categories added in 2024, creating high demand and high prices for illegally sourced weapons. Gun deaths in Canada stand at roughly two per 100,000 people, compared to nearly six in the United States.
What charges do the three suspects face?
All three were charged with attempting to smuggle firearms into Canada. They were produced before Federal Magistrate Judge Judith McCarthy in a suburban New York court and detained pending further proceedings.
Were any of the seized firearms reported stolen?
Yes, 17 of the 89 seized firearms were identified as stolen, according to federal prosecutors and FBI Assistant Director James Barnacle Jr.
