As if our Police and Security Services didn’t have enough to worry about already, then it would seem that some individuals deemed it fit to start making their own guns in an illegal factory, according to reports from the National Crime Agency
On Saturday, officers from the National Crime Agency attended a commercial address on an industrial estate in Hailsham.
The signage outside of the premises gave the impression that the location was being used for repairing gearboxes.
However, as three men left the building, they were confronted by officers and during this confrontation a Taser was used on one of the men.
The Agency has said that two handguns as well as ammunition were found at the location and the three men have apparently been charged with various firearms offences.
The area has been cordoned off, as Scenes of Crime Officers undertake a fingertip search of the premises in order to try and gather as much evidence as possible.
The Agency report that they have found machinery for what they believe to be used for the manufacture of firearms, including a number of handguns which were part-built.
A statement on the NCA’s Website states:
“National Crime Agency investigators have discovered what they believe to be a sophisticated gun factory on an industrial estate in Hailsham, East Sussex.
“On Saturday evening officers from the NCA’s Armed Operations Unit were deployed to Hailsham as part of a live investigation.
“Officers heard loud bangs consistent with gunshots emanating from inside an industrial unit on Diplocks Way.
“The unit was an engineering workshop, with signage outside showing it to be a gearbox repair business.
“As NCA officers moved in three men exited the building and they were immediately arrested.
“One NCA officer had to discharge a taser to affect the arrest of one of the men. Two handguns and a quantity of ammunition were recovered.
“All three men were later charged with offences relating to the possession of firearms and have now been remanded in custody after appearing before a magistrate.
“The area around the industrial unit was then cordoned off, and NCA and Sussex Police officers began a thorough forensic search of the site.
“That search has taken several days, but officers have found what they suspect to be machinery and components used in the criminal manufacture of firearms and ammunition, including a number of handguns in various stages of production, as well as what appears to be templates and metal for use in their fabrication.
Head of the NCA’s National Firearms Threat Centre, Rob Hickinbottom, said:
“Our investigation is continuing, and much of what we have discovered at this location will now be the subject of careful forensic analysis.
“We suspect that this operation has disrupted a group that would appear to be involved in the criminal production of firearms.
“As a result we have prevented a potentially large quantity of weapons from getting onto the black market and into the hands of criminals.
“I would also like to recognise the superb support and assistance we have had from Sussex Police throughout this operation – their contribution to this investigation has been and will continue to be crucial to its success.”
The National Crime Agency (NCA) is a national law enforcement agency established in 2013 as a non-ministerial government department.
It replaces the Serious Organised Crime Agency and absorbed the formerly separate Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) as one of its commands.
It also assumed a number of responsibilities of other law enforcement agencies.
There is no telling just exactly how many lives have potentially been saved by shutting down this operation.
Before you go...
In a world where mainstream media narratives often eclipse the harsh realities faced by our valiant men and women in the emergency services, we at Emergency Services News have made it our mission to bring these overlooked stories into the spotlight.
Our team is exclusively composed of dedicated volunteers, all veterans of the emergency services. They commit their time and expertise to this cause, not for financial gain, but out of a shared passion to honour their colleagues and dispel the misconceptions that mainstream media perpetuates.
Despite running at a loss, we persist. We believe in the importance of our mission - to elevate the dignity and courage of those who risk their lives for us every single day. But we need your help.
Your donation directly sustains ESN, enabling the continuous delivery of authentic, critical stories often overlooked by mainstream media. We deeply appreciate your support, which enables us to further our mission of delivering important, underreported stories. Thank you for standing with us and thank you for supporting our team of former emergency services & HM Forces personnel.
You can support emergency services news from as little as £1. It only takes a minute. Every contribution, however big or small, is vital for our future.
Please help us to continue to highlight the life-saving work of the emergency services, NHS and armed forces by becoming a supporter.
