Major bust results in 6 arrests, dozens of guns off NYC streets

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A major gun bust in New York City has taken dozens of weapons off the streets.

Authorities announced details of the arrests Tuesday.

"Some of the weapons recovered are among the most dangerous weapons around today," said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Authorities say Samuel Barretto and 5 others sold semi-automatic assault weapons, revolvers and pistols to what they thought was a Manhattan based gun dealer. It was really an undercover NYPD detective.

The defendants allegedly cruised the streets of East Harlem, Harlem and the Bronx from January of 2014 to this past August.

According to investigators, they not only sold the guns but also ammunition they called "food" for the weapons.

"Each of the buys took place in a residential neighborhood in broad daylight with two of the final sales taking place on East 102nd street near the site of violence which culminated in the death of police officer Randolph Holder last week," said Vance.

One of the suspects is a former Marine.

Officials say Barretto served as a broker and introduced the other suspects to the undercover.

As for the weapons, most came from out of state through what's called the iron pipeline, a steady flow of illegal weapons from the South.

Mayor de Blasio warns if it's not shut down we will continuing seeing violence like what unfolded in East Harlem last Tuesday.

"We know for a fact that the gun that killed Officer Holder originated in South Carolina," said the mayor. "We keep seeing this pathway illustrated over and over again. A gun from South Carolina kills one of our finest on our streets."