Highland couple face gun charges
TWO Scots have been charged with firearms offences after an operation targeting customers buying illegal weapons.
They were among 10 people arrested in a UK-wide crackdown, during which scores of guns were seized.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said yesterday they and Police Scotland’s Organised Crime Partnership arrested Robert Lockhart and his partner Carol Stirling, both 49, after a number of firearms and weapons were seized from their home.
The couple, from Appin, Argyll, were each charged with seven firearms offences.
As part of the nationwide operation co-ordinated by the NCA, police from 25 forces and regional organised crime units raided a series of addresses on Wednesday.
At least 61 firearms were seized, including 46 handguns, five revolvers, two stun guns and a sub-machine gun, along with 1000 rounds of ammunition.
Police also confiscated a quantity of class A drugs, £2000 in cash, a kilogram of cannabis, eight Rolex watches and two crossbows.
NCA firearms threat lead Simon Brough said some of the weapons were found buried in people’s gardens.
He added: “The level of gun crime in the UK is one of the lowest in the world and strict UK legislation means it’s harder for criminals to access illegal weapons here.
“But we must continue to identify the supply routes by which illegal firearms enter the UK and collaborate with police forces and international law enforcement agencies to disrupt the criminal gangs using them.”
Of those arrested, four people – including the two Scots – have been charged with various firearms offences and remanded in custody. The other six were released under investigation.