A National Crime Agency chief fears more criminals could try to have ready-made weapons posted to them from overseas after a Kirkcaldy case came to light this week.
Officers from the joint Organised Crime Partnership unit were called in after a box containing 50 rounds of ammunition was seized by Border Force officers carrying out checks on incoming parcels at a distribution hub in Edinburgh, and acting on intelligence from the NCA.
The package was on the way to John Stewart’s home address in Cook Street, Kirkcaldy, and he was arrested in May on suspicion of importing firearms following a raid on the 33-year-old’s property.
A blank firing handgun was recovered from his living room, along with further rounds of ammunition, but work had been started to convert it to fire live ammunition.
Now there are real concerns that organised gangs may be trying to arm themselves using a similar approach, exploiting legal loopholes which allow them to buy fake guns elsewhere and have them shipped to the UK to be transformed into dangerous weapons.
The NCA’s John McGowan, operations manager for the Organised Crime Partnership, confirmed: “The importation of firearms into the UK through post and fast parcel is a known threat we are actively targeting.
“What we see, and what happened here, is blank firing weapons which are legal elsewhere being illegally imported into the UK and then converted to fire live ammunition.
“Keeping these sort of weapons out of the hands of criminals is a priority for the Organised Crime Partnership, and we’re determined to do all we can with our partners to disrupt that supply line and protect the public.”
Stewart was jailed for 27 months at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday after admitting importing and possessing firearms, with the court hearing that a second handgun that was due to be delivered to Stewart’s home in Cook Street was seized in the mail system just hours after the initial raid on his property.
Detective Inspector Tom Gillan, from the Organised Crime Partnership, said: “We have recovered over 40 firearms across Scotland since 2018 and we will continue our operations and investigations in our aim to take dangerous weapons off our streets.
“Targeting those who attempt to jeopardise the safety of our communities will continue to be a top priority for the OCP, supported by local divisions.”
Adam Scarcliffe, Border Force assistant director for Scotland East, added: “The work of Border Force in seizing the ammunition and weapons was a vital early-stage part of this successful prosecution.
“Our officers do similar work every day at postal hubs across the UK, using their expertise to keep dangerous weapons and other banned goods out of the country.
“Following every seizure, intelligence is shared with law enforcement partners such as the NCA, in order that further action can be taken.
“This case is an excellent example of different agencies working together to identify and ultimately prosecute an offender.”
