A haul of firearms has been seized in France from a car heading to the UK.<\/p>\n
Seventy-nine “viable” weapons were recovered from the car’s trailer when it was stopped by UK Border Force officers at Coquelles near the Channel Tunnel terminal on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Two men, a Polish and a Czech national, have been remanded in custody at Uxbridge magistrates’ court in connection with the operation.<\/p>\n
The guns were concealed in specially-adapted engine blocks.<\/p>\n
The seizure follows a joint operation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Metropolitan Police working with Border Force officials in France.<\/p>\n
Graham Gardner, the NCA’s deputy director of investigations, said: “Our recent threat assessment highlights that handguns are still commonly favoured by some criminal groups in the UK.<\/p>\n
“They may not be the largest firearm, but they are easily concealable and lethal in the hands of anyone prepared to use them.”<\/p>\n
Denis Kolencukov, 23, originally from the Czech Republic but living in the UK, and Polish national Janusz Michek, 59, are each charged with two firearms offences.<\/p>\n
No further action will be taken against six other Polish nationals arrested in Coquelles.<\/p>\n
Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"