A 58-year-old man faces smuggling charges after Border Force officers intercepted a vehicle containing 55 loaded pistols and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at the Port of Dover.
The discovery was made shortly before midnight on Wednesday 4 February when authorities stopped a van for inspection. During the search, officers located dozens of Glock 19 handguns concealed within two spare tyres. In addition to the firearms, investigators recovered approximately 500 rounds of live ammunition.
The National Crime Agency launched a formal investigation immediately following the seizure and officers confirmed that the suspect, a Bulgarian national, has been charged with the illegal importation of firearms and ammunition. The defendant was due to appear before Margate magistrates on Friday 6 February to face the allegations.
NCA Operations Manager Tracey Gasson said:
“This is a massive haul of illegal firearms and ammunition and very significant levels of harm have no doubt been prevented by this brilliant detection. Firearms crime in the UK is among the lowest in the world, but the criminal demand for guns continues. We continue to work with partners at home, such as Border Force, and international law enforcement to tackle this threat.”
Ian Hanson, Border Force Director for South East and Europe said:
“Border Force are committed to stopping lethal firearms from entering the country illegally. We will continue to work tirelessly to keep the public safe and our borders secure.”