Law enforcement officials in the last two months have seized 1,753 firearms in New York state following the creation of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office on Friday announced. 

The number of guns seized as part of the enforcement effort represents a 20% increase as state officials seek to highlight the cooperation between the State Police, the NYPD and the northeastern states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New Hampshire, as well as federal law enforcement. 

The State Police have doubled the numbr of guns seized from January through March, and have also increased gun tracing investigations by 75%. 

"We know that we have strength in numbers, and the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns brings together the largest regional police consortium that has ever been assembled to fight this national phenomenon of gun violence," Hochul said. "I am proud to announce that the Task Force is already delivering results, with New York State Police, New York City Police Department and our local police agencies having removed over 1,700 guns off the streets over the last three months."

Hochul convened the task force in February as part of a broader effort to stem the rise in violent crime in New York. The task force is meant to tackle concerns around illegal guns flowing into New York from other states. 

"With the rise in gun violence felt across the nation, it is incumbent upon government to think beyond typical systems and solutions. For New York, this innovation demands two things: regional information sharing and the steadfast dedication of the best and brightest minds in law enforcement and public policy," said Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin. "I am proud of the efforts our Interstate Taskforce on Illegal Guns have made since our first meeting in January. We will continue to work until every, single illegal gun is off our streets."