Massive Illegal Arms Bust in Queens: Over 50 'Ghost' Guns Confiscated

The Office of the New York Attorney General announced a major arms bust in Queens, during which authorities confiscated 55 "ghost" guns and an array of assault weapons .

Knewz.com has learned that a total of five individuals were arrested during the operation for their involvement in gun trafficking.

The arrested individuals have been slapped with a 625-count indictment , according to Letitia James, the New York State Attorney General.

The major illegal arms bust was the result of a month-long investigation that began in 2023, involving Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York and the New York City Police Department ( NYPD ), led by the Office of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF).

The operation led to the recovery of a total of 86 illegal firearms, including 55 "ghost guns" and 25 assault weapons.

In addition, the authorities also found over 90 high-capacity magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition .

The Attorney General's Office alleged that the five apprehended individuals transported 3D-printed ghost guns assembled in Nassau County and serialized firearms purchased in Indiana into Queens, where they were stored and sold.

The five people charged with being involved in the operation have been identified as 20-year-old Satveer Saini of East Elmhurst, 21-year-old Mateo Castro-Agudelo of Long Island City, 20-year-old Hargeny Fernandez-Gonzalez of Richmond Hill, 20-year-old Adam Youssef Senhaji-Rivas of Astoria, and 20-year-old Milanjit Sidhu of Greenwood, Indiana.

The investigation found that Saini, Fernandez-Gonzalez, and Senhaji-Rivas bought over $27,000 worth of firearms in Indiana and brought them into New York.

Early on in the investigation, Saini and Castro-Agudelo were stopped by the Ohio State Highway Patrol for speeding while the two were on their way from Indianapolis to Queens.

The stop recovered nine unloaded serialized handguns from inside Saini’s rental car, following which Fernandez-Gonzalez paid Sidhu to make the drive.

The 20-year-old from Richmond Hill also "bought 3D-printed ghost guns in Nassau County and brought them to Queens for other members of the trafficking ring to sell," the press release published by the New York State Attorney General mentioned.

"Saini, Castro-Agudelo, and Senhaji-Rivas all sold trafficked firearms, high-capacity magazines, and ammunition during the course of the investigation," the press release read.

Attorney General James further mentioned that Castro-Agudelo and Fernandez-Gonzalez used a garage in the neighborhood of Elmhurst in Queens to store the illegal firearms.

At one point, the garage contained "twelve firearms – including seven ghost guns – and numerous high-capacity magazines inside a guitar case," per the Attorney General's announcement.

"Castro-Agudelo used the guitar case to transport firearms and ammunition to his customers. At least one of the firearms sales he made took place outside of a smoke shop in Jackson Heights where he worked."

The five arrested individuals have been charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree, along with other related charges.

Notably, Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree are both Class-B violent felonies, and if convicted of either of them, they could face up to 25 years in prison.

"The defendants are accused of amassing a cache of illegal high-powered rifles, handguns, and semiautomatic weapons that could have undoubtedly been used to promote violence and further cause irreparable devastation," Homeland Security Investigation New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said about the bust.

Attorney General James also shared a statement while announcing the bust, which read:

"When gun traffickers flood neighborhoods with untraceable firearms, they fuel violence that tears communities apart... This investigation successfully stopped a dangerous gun trafficking operation by removing dozens of ghost guns and assault weapons from our streets."

"I will continue to use every available resource to stop illegal gun trafficking and protect our communities from the dangers of gun violence. I thank our partners in this investigation for their diligent work to keep New Yorkers safe," she added.