NYPD: 1,000 illegal guns seized citywide this year, including hundreds of 'ghost guns'
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Attorney General Letitia James announced the numbers Thursday at the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville, where many of the recovered weapons were displayed on long tables.
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New York City officials say more than 1,000 illegal guns have been taken off the streets so far this year, a milestone they credit to targeted gang takedowns and interstate trafficking investigations.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Attorney General Letitia James announced the numbers Thursday at the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville, where many of the recovered weapons were displayed on long tables.
The haul included so-called “ghost guns” with no serial numbers, handguns, and assault‑style rifles that officials say were trafficked across state lines before ending up in city neighborhoods.
James pointed to a recent indictment of a Florida man accused of shipping weapons into New York as an example of how the gun pipeline continues to fuel violence.
Tisch said the NYPD’s enforcement strategy has contributed to a 25% drop in gun violence citywide compared to the same period last year.
The 73rd Precinct, she added, has seen some of the steepest declines.
"The 73rd Precinct has seen a 71% decrease in shootings year to date and an 85% decrease since 2020,” Tisch said.
James emphasized that despite the progress, parts of Brooklyn and the Bronx continue to feel the consequences of illegal guns.
“When gun violence goes unaddressed by those in power, it’s communities like Brownsville, East New York and parts of the Bronx that pay the price,” she said.
Officials said the 1,000‑gun milestone represents only the starting point for 2026, adding that they hope the impact is felt most in neighborhoods that have historically carried the burden of gun violence.
The announcement comes one day after Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state will intensify efforts to crack down on “switches,” devices that can convert handguns into fully automatic weapons.
