2 Boston women arrested for gun smuggling

Two Boston women have been arrested on charges of trying to smuggle guns into Massachusetts from Alabama, police and federal authorities said this afternoon.

Niya Mills, 23, of Roxbury, and Sukia Omere, 20, of Boston, were charged with one count of unlawful transportation of firearms into the state.

At a news conference, police said the pair bought six firearms in Bessemer, Ala., with the intent to sell them in Boston. US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan said the defendants hoped to sell the weapons for $800 a piece.

Investigators said they are still trying to determine whether the two suspects were working alone or were part of a larger gun-running ring. Police said the women were under surveillance for two days before they were arrested this week. The break came from information supplied to the Boston Police anonymous tip line.

The two women are expected to face a detention hearing in federal district court on Friday.