- The weapons were hidden along with 13,500 magazines in a container carrying clothing from Turkey to the Republic of Djibouti

- The detonator pistols could be transformed into real firearms, according to the first tests carried out

 

The Risk Analysis Unit of the Algeciras Customs Office (UAR), a joint unit made up of Customs Surveillance and Civil Guard officials, has seized 22,272 detonating pistols that could be modified or transformed into firearms, according to the first examinations carried out and awaiting the final report from Civil Guard specialists. The weapons were hidden along with 13,500 magazines in a container carrying clothing from Turkey bound for the East African Republic of Djibouti.
The operation took place last week, when a container was detected in transit carrying clothing, according to the documentation submitted to the Algeciras Customs Office.
Suspecting that the container might be carrying merchandise other than that declared, it was opened, and a first screen of cardboard boxes containing clothing was found. Continuing with the inspection, it was found that behind that first screen there were other boxes of the same type where cases containing detonating pistols that could be transformed into real firearms and spare magazines were hidden. The 22,272 pistols and 13,500 magazines could have reached a market value of more than two million euros.
Since the content documentation did not comply with the corresponding regulatory requirements, the cargo has been made available to the Investigating Court No. 3 of Algeciras as a crime of smuggling has allegedly been committed.
The seizure made in the Port of Algeciras is the largest of its kind carried out by Customs in at least the last decade. Previously, in October 2009, and also in Algeciras, the Tax Agency seized six pistols, 24 shotguns and a large amount of ammunition. However, the most important precedent took place in July 2007, when the UAR of Algeciras detected a container sent from Israel to Nicaragua containing 400 pistols, 305 shotguns, 386 carbines and 310 air weapons.