BOSTON — Leaders from federal and state law enforcement agencies joined together in Boston Oct. 16 to speak to media about the dangers of firearms components bought online.
After a recent joint cyber investigation dismantled a ring of Chinese websites illegally importing machine gun conversion devices and silencers to the United States, leaders from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Massachusetts State Police to emphasize the significant, ongoing danger these devices represent to the public.
“With a collective voice, we issue a stern warning about the illegal purchase, sale, possession and use of machine gun conversion devices. The prevalence and availability of these devices is a public safety threat, not only to our communities, but to those law enforcement officers sworn to protect them. Sadly, this is not solely a Massachusetts or a New England problem, but a matter of national significance,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol from Homeland Security Investigations. “To address this threat, we are using every tool and partnership in our arsenal, and we stand united in law enforcement alongside our local, state and federal prosecutors to ensure the safety and security of our communities.”
“Machine conversion devices, also known as auto sears or switches, pose an increasing and grave threat to public safety. These small, easily concealed devices can transform semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, drastically amplifying their destructive potential,” said ATF Boston Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson. “These devices are illegal under federal law for a reason. While a semiautomatic firearm fires one round per trigger pull, a conversion device allows multiple rounds to be fired with a single pull, effectively converting it into a machine gun — often with devastating results. ATF, in partnership with our law enforcement colleagues, remains fully committed to removing these dangerous devices from our streets to protect our communities and prevent further tragedy.”
“As law enforcement officers, we have an inherent duty to protect the public from dangerous people and things. The federal and state partners represented here today have worked collaboratively to identify and deliver consequences to the networks and suppliers of illegal firearms and firearms parts that plague our community,” said CBP Boston Assistant Director of Border Security Michael Manning.
“Today's event highlights the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s commitment to protecting our mail stream from illegal contraband that threatens our neighborhoods," said USPIS Boston Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. "Firearm switches and silencers have no business being illegally shipped via the U.S. mail. Our collaboration with our federal and state law enforcement partners assures us that this type of crime will not go unnoticed. We will continue to seek out those who exploit the U.S mail, endanger our employees and the communities we serve.”
“As our country grapples with an ongoing crisis of gun violence, the Massachusetts State Police and the Attorney General's Office share a mission to protect the public from the dangers of illegal firearms," said Detective Lieutenant Timothy Babbin of the Attorney General's Office Mass State Police Unit. "We cannot do this work alone and will continue to work with local, state and federal partners to keep our communities safe.”
Machine gun conversion devices are small, inconspicuous and lightweight pieces of plastic designed to convert semiautomatic pistols into fully automatic machine guns. Possession of these items and their importation from certain countries, including China, are prohibited under the National Firearms Act. Machine gun conversion devices can increase the rate-of-fire to 1,100 to 1,200 rounds per minute. This rate also makes firearms difficult to aim, increasing lethality.
Law enforcement leaders emphasized the need to collaborate and leverage each agency’s expertise to identify, disrupt and dismantle weapons trafficking networks as firearms traffickers illegally sell machine gun conversion devices and other controlled firearms components online. Agencies work together to dismantle the illicit supply chain by seizing web domains, interdicting shipments at the border and the interior, and seizing devices that have been delivered.
Since 2018, initiatives to combat the illegal importation and trafficking of machine gun conversion devices as well as silencers and suppressors led to over 2,100 HSI investigations that resulted in 667 arrests. Over 4,800 individual seizures were made by HSI and CBP at international mail facilities, express consignment shipping hubs and during the execution of approximately 900 search warrants. Since 2022, HSI and CBP seized over 4,500 machine gun conversion devices.
Individuals with information related to illegal firearms components can contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP. Callers may remain anonymous.