U.S. Customs and Border Protection is teaming up with NYPD, DEA and Homeland Security Investigations to keep illegal firearms out of New York City communities. The agencies held a joint news conference today at John F. Kennedy International Airport to discuss their plans.

"We need to make sure that under intense pressure we keep these weapons off our streets. Because ultimately, if we don't, they end up in the hands of those dangerous individuals who are on the streets of New York," says Frank Russo, director New York Field Office of CBP.

CBP says it seized over 5,000 illegal weapons last year with more than 2,700 of them at JFK.

Shootings are up across Long Island and experts say the majority involve illegally possessed guns.

Guns are going up what is known as the "Iron Pipeline" where people buy firearms from other states and transport them. Police say people are also making their own guns through the purchasing and building of illegal parts, which become known as ghost guns.

"We are taking more and more guns off [the streets] then we ever have in the history of the department in the first two months of this year," says Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder.

According to Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly, law enforcement has seized over 94 illegal guns already this year. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney says shooting incidents involving injury are up 8.1% so far this year.

The agencies involved in the Firearm Task Force gathered at the airport because that is where many of the gun-part deliveries are going before heading to neighborhoods.