Police seize large number of firearms in Europe weapons-smuggling crackdown
European police have smashed an international weapons-smuggling ring operating in at least four countries.
Police say the group traded firearms in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France.
Rudolf Welte of Rottweil police in southern Germany said on Wednesday that the gang’s operations came to light following an investigation in Toulouse, France.
File photo of a sub machine gun recovered in a police raid (Fiona Hanson/PA)
Mr Welte said simultaneous raids in the four countries in November led to several arrests and the seizure of large numbers of firearms.
Uta Bachmann of the domestic intelligence service in Austria’s western state of Vorarlberg said more than 150 firearms and hundreds of kilograms of ammunition were seized in that country alone.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Bregenz, Austria, investigators said the investigation was not terrorism-related.
