Six Jamaican men arrested and charged in New York gun trafficking bust

Six Jamaican men accused of being members of a violent street gang in Nassau County in Long Island, New York in the United States have been arrested and charged with gun trafficking and drug offences.

They have been identified as 30-year-old Robert Petgrave of Queens, 37-year-old Andrew Petgrave, also of Queens, 48-year-old Clayton Solomon of Elmont and Laurelton, 25-year-old Shaheed Folks of Queens, 22-year-old Raheem Smith of Jamaica, Queens, and 35-year-old Jamari Puri of Springfield Gardens.

Law enforcement personnel said they were arrested following a 14-month-long investigation.

During the arrests, investigators said they recovered 47 firearms, including weapons with high-capacity magazines, one kilogramme of cocaine and 150 grammes of heroin.

They said the firearms were linked to shootings in Suffolk County and Alabama.

Law enforcement authorities have alleged that three of the men — Smith, Folks and Puri — are in the United States illegally and are believed to have links to a Jamaica-based gang.

Describing it as a violent Jamaican street gang, law enforcement authorities said the investigation began with a routine traffic stop in 2025 and uncovered weapons being sold across the region, including near a school.

The six men have been hit with 100 counts across 13 separate offences.

The charges include first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, first-degree sale of firearms and criminal sale of firearms.

Law enforcement authorities have described the gun trafficking bust as one of the largest in Nassau County's history.

“This is one of the largest gun trafficking cases that I have seen in my 37 years in the district attorney’s office,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

She said any single one of the nearly 50 guns had the potential to do untold damage in the county's neighbourhoods, across the region, and throughout New York State.

Law enforcement officials said additional arrests are possible and more charges could be filed against those already arrested.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said the takedown was of historic proportions and would make Nassau County and the wider region safer.

- Lester Hinds

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