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Firearms seized in police raids Huge weapons cache found in house
(about 3 hours later)
Officers have uncovered a stash of hundreds of guns in what is described as one of the biggest weapons seizures in the Metropolitan Police's history. Hundreds of guns have been found in a semi-detached house in one of the Metropolitan Police's biggest ever weapons seizures.
Three addresses were visited during dawn raids on Wednesday in Dartford, Kent, as part of an 18-month inquiry into shootings in north London. Pump-action shotguns, M16 rifles, revolvers and antique firearms were among weapons seized during raids on three properties in Dartford, Kent.
A 55-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of supplying firearms during the raids, which involved 30 officers. Most were found in one house, where a 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of supplying guns.
Law enforcement agencies in the US have arrested a man in linked raids. A second man was arrested in linked raids in the United States.
The suspect was held in the state of New Jersey by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which has been liaising with the Metropolitan Police (Met). The UK raids were part of an 18-month inquiry into gang shootings in north London and were carried out by Operation Trident, the specialist unit which investigates gun crime in London's black community.
Pump-action shotguns, automatic, semi-automatic weapons, M16 rifles, revolvers as well as antique firearms and ammunition were seized in the raids, carried out by the Met's Operation Trident team, which investigates gun crime within London's black community. Most weapons, which also included automatic and semi-automatic weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition, were found at the house, which is believed to belong to a registered gun dealer.
Plain clothes police officers from Operation Trident raided the house I have never seen anything like it Det Ch Supt Kevin Davis href="/1/hi/uk/5342246.stm" class="">Q&A: Operation Trident
Two homes - one of which was where most the weapons were found - and a commercial premises were visited by detectives. Detectives said some weapons may be legal, others may not.
Four firearms were seized at the second residential address and cash was found at all three. Weapons were found in every room apart from the bathroom, mounted on walls, left on the floor, or propped up against walls.
The operation - codenamed Mokpo - was launched 18 months ago following a spate of shootings in north London involving rival gangs.
Det Ch Supt Kevin Davis, from Operation Trident, said: "This is the biggest firearms haul we (Operation Trident) have ever had.Det Ch Supt Kevin Davis, from Operation Trident, said: "This is the biggest firearms haul we (Operation Trident) have ever had.
"The premises raided were used to store hundreds and hundreds of weapons. I have never seen anything like it."The premises raided were used to store hundreds and hundreds of weapons. I have never seen anything like it.
It is impossible to overestimate the misery and fear these weapons could have brought if they had got into the hands of criminals Det Ch Supt Kevin Davis href="/1/hi/uk/5342246.stm" class="">Q&A: Operation Trident Plain clothes police officers from Operation Trident raided the house
"There are guns everywhere. It will take us at least three days to log it all and bag up the evidence. "There are guns everywhere. It will take us at least three days to log it all and bag up the evidence."
"It is impossible to overestimate the misery and fear these weapons could have brought if they had got into the hands of criminals." Four guns were found at another home while no weapons were found at the third property - business premises, but police said a substantial sum of cash was found at all three.
The arrested man, who is a registered gun dealer, was led out under a blanket from his semi-detached house - which has a US flag flying from it - at about 1000 BST. Another suspect was held in the US state of New Jersey by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which has been liaising with the Metropolitan Police (Met).
He has been taken to a north London police station for questioning. Special Agent Rich Marianos said: "We have been, during the last eight months, working in conjunction with the UK authorities on an international weapons trafficking investigation.
"Today in the US, ATF is conducting follow-up investigative efforts in support of the UK's raid in Kent."
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