Authorities have busted a gun-smuggling ring that allegedly sneaked its weapons into the city on Metro-North trains and trafficked them through the Bronx, according to the attorney general.
Nine alleged gang members were arrested and 93 guns were seized in the year-long undercover operation investigating a faction of the Bloods street gang known as Red Side, the New York attorney general's office said.
The seized guns, which were brought in from Maine; Stamford, Connecticut; and Port Chester, New York, likely would have ended up used in crime, according to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
The gang members had street names like Saiko, Burnz, Agony and Wobbles. The latter, whose real name is William Solder, was the ringleader; the 500-pound man didn't appear in court Wednesday due to health issues.
Investigators said the alleged traffickers figured out Metro-North was the most convenient way to carry illegal guns into New York.
"They were concealing them in carry-on luggage and bags," said Schneiderman at a news conference Wednesday. "They weren't transporting dozens of guns at a time but they were very effective at this."
Schneiderman said it's textbook case of how most illegal guns end up in New York City.
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"The gun used to kill Officer Brian Moore was a gun purchased in a similar way, was brought out of state and smuggled into New York," said Schneiderman.
A tenth suspect has also been charged, accused of planning the murder of another gang member. Together the group is facing 397 charges, most of them connected to illegal gun sales. None of the attorneys for the suspects would comment on the charges Wednesday, but most entered pleas of not guilty.
