The New York Police Department announced that more than 3,200 firearms have been removed from the streets of New York City so far in 2026, including 199 weapons classified as ghost guns. The figures were released as part of a multi‑agency operation that the department says is aimed at reducing the flow of illegal guns throughout the city.
Police officials described the effort as a coordinated campaign involving several local, state and federal partners, with the NYPD taking the lead in planning and execution. The combined agencies worked together to locate, seize and secure the weapons, which ranged from handguns to rifles, though the exact types were not detailed beyond the inclusion of ghost‑manufactured firearms.
Ghost guns, which are assembled from kits or components and typically lack serial numbers, have become a focal point for law‑enforcement agencies because their untraceable nature complicates investigations. The 199 ghost guns taken this year represent a portion of the total haul, highlighting the department’s attention to this particular category of illegal weaponry.
The department’s statement emphasized that the seizure numbers reflect an ongoing commitment to public safety and to keeping firearms out of the hands of individuals who should not possess them. While the NYPD did not provide comparative data from previous years, the reported total of over 3,200 guns underscores the scale of the current operation.
City officials have linked the removal of these weapons to broader strategies intended to curb gun‑related crime and enhance community security. The multi‑agency approach, described as a key element of the city's law‑enforcement toolkit, is expected to continue throughout the remainder of the year as authorities maintain focus on disrupting illegal gun trafficking and possession.