September 4, 2018 10.33 am This story is over 66 months old

Guns and ammo seized in lorry raid

Heckler and Koch P2000 handguns were found
A search of the lorry uncovered ten Heckler and Koch P2000 handguns. Photo: National Crime Agency

A haul of 10 handguns, normally used by law enforcement agencies, were seized after a Czech lorry driver was stopped by border force officers over the weekend.

David Abeles, 45, has been charged with possessing firearms after the handguns were found in a truck arriving into Killingholme.

Mr Abeles was stopped as he drove his HGV off a ferry from the Hook of Holland to the North Lincolnshire port during the morning of Saturday, September 1 and National Crime Agency investigators were called in.

Heckler and Koch P2000 handguns were found in the lorry and the weapons had been wrapped in individual packages which were inside a plastic crate stored in a pallet locker.

Around 250 rounds of compatible ammunition were also recovered during the search and the bullets had been wrapped in bags of 25 and were inside the packages with the guns.

Mr Abeles was questioned by NCA officers before being charged with possession offences and he appeared before Grimsby Magistrates Court on September 3.

He was remanded in custody and will appear at Leeds Crown Court on September 24.

Branch commander at NCA David Norris said: “Our investigation into this seizure is ongoing, but there is no doubt in my mind that these weapons would have found their way onto the black market and into the hands of criminals.

“The level of gun crime in the UK is one of the lowest in the world, but the potential for harm caused by these weapons make eliminating the criminal use of firearms a priority threat for the NCA and UK law enforcement.

“The NCA works internationally to disrupt the flow of firearms trafficked to the UK and Border Force is a vital partner in this work. This seizure was a great example of that in action.”

Assistant Director at Border Force Humber Command Mark Robinson added: “We are determined to prevent deadly weapons from reaching the UK’s streets. Detections like this demonstrate how Border Force officers are at the forefront of the fight to protect UK communities and individuals from such firearms.

“As well as conducting checks on arriving passengers, vehicles and cargo, Border Force work with their fellow law enforcement partners, like the National Crime Agency, to detect and stop these type of weapons from entering the UK.”