A Polish national has been charged with firearms smuggling after 61 self-loading pistols and magazines loaded with ammunition were discovered hidden in his vehicle at the Port of Dover, authorities have confirmed.
Eryk Mariusz Kiler was detained on 15 May following an inspection by Border Force officers, who uncovered the arsenal of weapons concealed inside his car.
The case is now being handled by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which has charged Kiler in connection with the illegal transportation of firearms into the UK.
In a statement, the NCA said:
“This charge follows an NCA investigation after Border Force officers found the weapons and ammunition concealed in a vehicle at Dover.
The NCA and partners at home and abroad do everything possible to fight the threat of the criminal use of firearms.”
Major Seizure Amid Growing Firearms Threat
The discovery is considered one of the largest single seizures of illegal firearms at a UK port in recent months and comes amid growing concerns over the smuggling of weapons into the country by organised crime groups.
Kiler has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear in court in the coming days. Further details about his journey or the intended destination of the weapons have not yet been released.
Investigations are ongoing and authorities have not ruled out further arrests as they work with international law enforcement partners to track the origins and end users of the firearms.
