Man arrested at airport charged with firearms offence
DRUGS AND GUN RUNNING PROBE LEADS TO RAID
ONE of the men arrested by the National Crime Agency at Birmingham Airport on Saturday has been charged with a firearms offence.
The NCA, working with Irish gardaí, arrested Thomas Kavanagh, 51, as part of investigation into drugs smuggling and gun running in Britain and Ireland.
Mr Kavanagh, who lives in Tamworth, was detained as he arrived at Birmingham Airport, and arrested on suspicion of conspiring to import and supply drugs, firearms and ammunition, as well as money laundering.
Officers from the NCA, Garda and Staffordshire Police, searched Thomas Kavanagh’s house and recovered a combination torch and stun gun, classed as an illegal firearm.
A statement released by the NCA yesterday said: “A 51-year-old man has been charged with possession of a Section 5 firearm after he was arrested yesterday (January 12) as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the supply of drugs and firearms in Ireland and the UK.
“Thomas Kavanagh, of Tamworth, was detained as he arrived at Birmingham Airport, and arrested on suspicion of conspiring to import and supply drugs, firearms and ammunition, as well as money laundering.
“NCA officers, supported by colleagues from An Garda Síochána and Staffordshire Police, conducted number of searches and recovered a combination torch and stun gun – which is illegal to own and possess in the UK.”
Mr Kavanagh has been remanded in custody
aovernight and will appear at North Staffordshire Magistrates court tomorrow (January 14).
A 20-year old man, who was arrested alongside Kavanagh at Birmingham Airport has been released under investigation.
A third man, aged 19, was also arrested and released under investigation.