13/09/2006

Firearms seized in raid on 'gun smugglers'

Police have seized hundreds of guns during a series of raids in Kent, in what has been described as one of the biggest weapons seizures in the history of the Metropolitan Police.

Officers carried out dawn raids in Dartford, Kent on Wednesday morning and discovered weapons including shotguns, automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Hundreds of guns are believed to have been found in the house, which is believed to belong to a registered gun dealer. Police said that some of the weapons may be legal, but others may not.

A 55-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of supplying firearms.

The raids were part of the Metropolitan Police's Operation Trident investigation, which is investigating gun crime amongst London's black community. They were triggered by a series of shootings in north London involving rival gangs eighteen months ago.

Linked raids have been carried out in New Jersey in the US. A second man has reportedly been arrested.

Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Davis, from Operation Trident, said: "This is the biggest firearms haul we have ever had. The premises raided were used to store hundreds and hundreds of weapons. I have never seen anything like it. There are guns everywhere. It will take us at least three days to log it all and bag up the evidence."

(KMcA)

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