Two charged over huge guns and drugs haul found in lorry

AN ARSENAL of 20 handguns and a thousand rounds of ammunition has been found hidden in photocopier paper, the National Crime Agency has announced.

Border Force officers intercepted a heavy-goods lorry, bound for Cardiff, in Dover at 6am on Friday.

A search of the HGV and trailer revealed 20 handguns, 1,000 rounds of ammunition and class A and B drugs concealed within a cargo of photocopier paper. Officers found approximately 300kg of methamphetamine, 50kg of the horse tranquilliser ketamine, which can be used as a recreational drug, 50kg of cocaine and 10kg of heroin. The drugs have a combined street value of approximately £7.5 million.

The shipment was listed for delivery to an address in Cardiff. However, inquiries revealed it was not expected at the delivery address and none of the load was legitimate.

Two Polish nationals were handed over by Border Force to the National Crime Agency and have been arrested and charged.

Lukasz Kur, 32, and Rafal Anyszek, 32, were intercepted at Dover Eastern Docks freight controls, charged on Saturday night and remanded in custody to appear at Margate Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Kathryn Philpott, senior investigating officer for the NCA, said: “This is a substantial seizure of firearms and ammunition which would pose a significant risk to life once in the hands of criminals in the UK.

“Criminal gangs use handguns to bring fear and violence to our streets. We are committed to doing all we can to prevent these items getting into the UK to help keep the public safe.”

In July, in a joint operation by Scotland Yard and the NCA, police stopped a cache of 79 handguns from entering the UK via the Channel Tunnel.

The haul of “viable” 4mm and 6mm handguns was found in specially adapted compartments in engine blocks being pulled on a trailer by a Mercedes van.