QUEENS, NY — A seven-month undercover investigation culminated in the indictment of three individuals on charges of gun trafficking. The Queens District Attorney’s Office and NYPD uncovered a scheme involving 109 illegal firearms and rifles, including 20 assault weapons, and a large cache of ammunition and high-capacity magazines.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz highlighted the operation’s impact on reducing citywide shootings, citing a 28 percent drop in 2023. Despite these gains, Katz emphasized the ongoing struggle against the gun epidemic and pledged continued efforts to dismantle the so-called Iron Pipeline.
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban detailed the risks law enforcement officers face in intercepting illegal firearms and the direct correlation between their work and the prevention of violent crimes.
Cousins Ahmed “Taju” Mutalib, Abdul Haruna, and Murtala Haruna face 575 counts, including criminal weapon possession and money laundering. With a potential 25-year sentence looming, their legal battle continues with a court appearance set for November 9.
The indictment follows a string of undercover purchases and wiretap evidence, revealing the defendants’ active roles in the trafficking ring. Notable incidents include transactions of assault weapons, semi-automatic pistols, rifles, and thousands of rounds of ammunition in a local store’s parking lot.
Operation Chainline also shed light on the defendants’ operation logistics, with surveillance capturing the transport of armaments from a Midwest location to New York.
The successful bust resulted from collaborative efforts between the Queens County District Attorney’s Office’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau and the NYPD’s Firearms Suppression Section.