Eight New York City policemen were charged today with helping run a gun-smuggling ring in a city where mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading a national campaign against illegal guns.
The US District Attorney's Office said the men "exploited their experience and credentials to assist in a variety of schemes involving the illegal interstate transportation of goods," which included guns, slot machines, cigarettes and counterfeit goods.
Five officers still are on active duty and two were active-duty officers for part of the time they are accused of involvement in the smuggling schemes. One suspect was retired. All worked in the city borough of Brooklyn, most of them in the same precinct.
"The defendants participated in schemes involving the illegal interstate transportation of goods carrying a street value in excess of one million dollars," according to the complaint.
The schemes were carried out in the past year.
Also charged were a former officer with the New York City Department of Sanitation Police, a New Jersey corrections officer, and two other men.
"The defendants transported 20 firearms, including three M-16 rifles, one shotgun and 16 handguns, the majority of which had obliterated or altered serial numbers, across state lines from New Jersey to New York," according to the complaint.
The New York City police department and one of its employee unions declined to comment on the charges.
Mr Bloomberg, who is co-chairman of the national coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, was not immediately available for comment. He helped found the group in 2006 in a bid to make cities safer by cracking down on illegal guns.
More than 500 mayors from more than 40 states are now members of Mr Bloomberg's coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. The group says that 30,000 Americans are killed every year by gun violence.
Reuters