A man has been charged with the attempted importation of firearms after 72 gun components were found hidden in a car shipped from Pakistan to the UK.

The parts, including top slides and barrels for handguns, were found hidden inside the fuel tank and under the bonnet of a car and were recovered by Border Force officers on July 7 at London Gateway port, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

Following the discovery, Yasir Khan, from Sparkhill in Birmingham, was detained by armed officers from the NCA on Friday in the city’s Jewellery Quarter, according to the agency.

The 39-year-old was questioned by investigators after his arrest and was charged with the offence on Saturday.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Paul Orchard said: “This operation has seen us prevent a huge array of gun parts entering the UK.”

These components could have been used to help build or adapt deadly weapons, which would have ended up in criminal hands.

“Working with our law enforcement partners we will do all we can to protect the public by preventing illegal firearms reaching the streets of the UK.”

Mr Khan will appear before Birmingham magistrates on Monday.