The police raid in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) on Sunday evening, which followed a year-and-a-half-long investigation, marks one of the largest arms seizures in recent German history.
According to Bild newspaper, the focus of the operation was a seemingly ordinary car repair shop, where investigators discovered a secret room containing a vast arsenal of automatic rifles, submachine guns, and handguns.
Police reportedly used a chainsaw to gain access to the hidden chamber, which also contained tank and anti-tank mines, prompting the urgent involvement of the explosive ordnance disposal service.
As a precaution, the building was completely evacuated, and experts from the explosive ordnance disposal service were called in to assess the danger posed by the objects found.
Several arrest warrants were executed during the operation, with officers rounding up members of the suspected international gang.
The group is believed to be involved in the commercial trade of illegal firearms and weapons of war. The specific charge is violation of the Weapons and Weapons of War Control Act, according to Bild.
At the Remscheid exit of the A1 motorway, officers stopped a vehicle believed to be driven by the owner of the garage.
The suspect was reportedly pursued from the Polish border to North Rhine-Westphalia, with authorities suspecting an attempt to smuggle another shipment of illegal weapons into Germany with two accomplices from Poland.
The public prosecutor’s office has confirmed the discovery of weapons and ongoing operations, with several court search warrants executed. A press conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. today, where further details are expected to be released.
Representatives of Europol are also on site, as investigations extend to other federal states and reportedly involve two other European countries.
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