More than 250 illegal guns were seized by the NYPD in the largest gun bust in the city's history, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Monday, CNN reported. The guns had been smuggled into New York City from North Carolina and South Carolina between September 2012 and July 2013 through two separate trafficking operation according to a news release from the city's special narcotics prosecutor, news reports said.
"Today, we are announcing the largest gun bust in the city's history- the result of an undercover investigation into two out-of-state gun trafficking operations," Bloomberg announced. "Wiretapped conversations showed that one of the gun trafficker's biggest concerns was 'stop, question, frisk,' he added.
The 254 guns sold reportedly included high-capacity assault weapons, a fully automatic machine guns, as well as all other kinds of guns normally associated with violent crimes. Bloomberg said that these guns included pistols and guns, which could hold magazines with 30 or more rounds.
19 people were arrested in association with the operation. The culprits face many counts of conspiracy, criminal sale of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon and other crimes. New York authorities worked with police departments in Sanford, North Carolina, and Rock Hill, South Carolina, CNN reported.
"It is impossible to know exactly how many victims might have suffered had officers not identified and investigated these gun traffickers. But thanks to the undercover officer in this case and the efforts of the NYPD Firearms Investigations Unit and prosecutors, instead of being used in crimes these guns are now out of commission," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
The 10-month investigation, which resulted in the 19 arrests began after police learned that gun sales were taking place in a recording studio in Brooklyn, New York, BBC News reported.
The announcement by Mayor Bloomberg comes only a week after the NYPD suffered a harsh blow, in which a city district judge deemed its 'Stop and Frisk' program as 'unconstitutional.'
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