Arrest and Charges:
Three Ghanaian cousins arrested in the US for smuggling and selling 109 illegal firearms in New York City.
Indictment: Grand jury charges include unlawful firearm sale, possession, conspiracy, and money laundering, carrying a 25-year prison sentence.
Details of Charges:
Ahmed Taju Mutalib faces first-degree firearm sale, conspiracy, money laundering, and illegal weapon possession charges.
Abdul Haruna charged with first-degree firearm sale, conspiracy, illegal weapon possession, money laundering, and other felonies.
Murtala Haruna faces charges including first-degree firearm sale, illegal weapon possession, money laundering, conspiracy, and other crimes.
Facts of the Case:
Police alerted in March 2023 to trafficking through a confidential tip leading to undercover transactions.
Transactions occurred in Astoria’s P.C Richard & Son parking lot, totaling 97 firearms, including 20 assault weapons.
Defendants recorded discussing firearm purchase, transport, and sale during the investigation.
Investigation Details:
Undercover officer’s purchases tracked, witnessing defendants transporting boxes corresponding with calls about gun transportation.
Law enforcement tracked defendants from Cincinnati to New York, leading to their arrest on September 8.
Search warrant executed on defendants’ vehicle in Staten Island, resulting in the recovery of firearms and ammunition.
Seizure of Weapons:
On September 8, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the defendants’ vehicle in Staten Island, resulting in the recovery of firearms, ammunition, and personal items.
Prosecution and Legal Proceedings:
Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau conducts prosecution in collaboration with NYPD, supervised by Assistant District Attorneys Jonathan Sennett, Michelle Goldstein, and Philip Anderson.
Collaboration involved NYPD Detective Alejandro Valderrama and others in tracking, arrests, and execution of search warrants.
