US Authorities Charge 3 Hamilton Men in Attempted Smuggling of 89 Firearms Into Canada

U.S. authorities disrupted an alleged plot last week to smuggle 89 firearms into Canada, resulting in two Canadians and one Pakistani national being charged and facing many years in prison.

The three men were arrested by New York State Police on May 7 after their vehicle was pulled over for a traffic stop, according to information released by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

The firearms were found in a large suitcase and various bags inside a rented Ford Explorer. Authorities said at least 17 of the firearms were reported stolen.

“From my training and experience investigating firearms trafficking, I am aware that individuals who engage in interstate firearms trafficking crimes frequently make use of rental cars,” wrote FBI Special Agent Brian Jennings in the complaint.

The three Canadians charged include Malik Bromfield and Kamal Salman, both 22 years of age. The third individual is 25-year-old Pakistani national Faizan Ali.

All the suspects are from Hamilton, Ont., according to the Hamilton Police Service.

Following the arrests, Hamilton police said Ali is wanted in connection with the death of a motorcyclist in May 2021. Police said in July 2024 that Ali was convicted in the case and was sentenced to 11 years on multiple convictions, including drug trafficking and firearms offences.

Ali was released prior to sentencing and failed to appear. The complaint filed in the Southern District of New York says there are at least four arrest warrants for Ali in Canada.

The complaint says the Ford Explorer driven by Bromfield was stopped by state police after committing multiple traffic violations. The suspects provided conflicting accounts about their travel plans and during the roadside interview, Ali consented to a search of his person.

An expired Pakistani driving permit issued to an Afghan national was found on Ali, according to the complaint. Bromfield and Salman declined to be searched and police subsequently called in a canine unit.

After the police dog changed behaviour during its examination of the vehicle, signalling the detection of narcotics, police officers conducted a preliminary search of the vehicle. A large suitcase containing multiple firearms was found in the back of the SUV, along with two large rifles on the floor of the back seat.

After obtaining a search warrant on May 8, police conducted a more thorough search and recovered approximately 89 firearms, including at least two rifles with shortened barrels in the AR family. A number of handguns previously reported stolen were also recovered.

Police also recovered approximately US$3,000 dollars in cash in the vehicle’s glove box.

The three suspects face various charges, including smuggling, unlicensed dealing of firearms, alien in possession of firearms, possession of stolen firearms, and unregistered possession of firearms. The charges have not yet been tested in court.

Police in Canada say firearms used to commit crimes in Canada most often enter the country illegally from the United States.

The RCMP said it’s aware of the charges against the Hamilton men but cannot comment on the case since the matter is before the courts.

“Targeting transnational organized crime groups that exploit our borders, including those involved in the illicit smuggling of firearms, is a key focus of the RCMP’s Federal Policing Program,” said spokesperson Marie-Eve Breton.

Editor’s note: the article was updated with a statement from the RCMP.