5 NYPD officers arrested in gun-smuggling sting

October 25, 2011 at 5:57p.m.

NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities say a sting operation resulted in the arrest of five New York Police Department officers on charges that they smuggled $1 million worth of firearms, cigarettes and slot machines they thought were stolen.

Federal authorities and the NYPD commissioner appeared at a news conference today after unsealing a criminal complaint that names 12 people.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara says the defendants were willing to smuggle a variety of contraband “as long as the price was right.” He calls the investigation “heartbreaking.”

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly says most officers do outstanding work to protect the public. He says a case like this is “disheartening to the entire department.”

The defendants also include three retired officers, a New Jersey corrections officer and three civilians.