More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Two men have been charged after three guns were seized.
They 9mm pistols were discovered by the Border Force in the suspects' lorry at Dover's freight controls at the Eastern Docks on Monday morning.
The guns are believed to be forward venting blank firers converted to fire live bullets.
Also inside the lorry were two Albanian men who were transferred to immigration authorities.
Ionut Constantin Diaconu, 35, of the city of Râmnicu Vâlcea and Constantin Neacsu, 38, of the area of Bujoreni, both in Romania, were charged with smuggling firearms.
They appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning and were remanded in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on August 10.
The charges were brought after a National Crime Agency investigation.
Martin Grace, branch commander, said: “The investigation was launched after excellent work by our Border Force colleagues to stop the vehicle and locate the firearms.
“The seriousness of gun crime cannot be underestimated.
“Firearms are used by organised criminal groups to threaten and intimidate others with the potential loss of life.”
