Firearms parts were concealed in the vehicle’s fuel tank and bonnet

A man has been charged with attempting to import firearms into the UK after Border Force officers discovered 72 gun parts hidden within a car shipped from Pakistan. The components, which included top slides and barrels for handguns, were concealed in the vehicle’s fuel tank and beneath the bonnet, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA). The parts were recovered on July 7 at London Gateway port.

The suspect, Yasir Khan, aged 39 and from Sparkhill, Birmingham, was arrested by armed NCA officers in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter on Friday. Following his detention, Khan was questioned by investigators and formally charged on Saturday.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Paul Orchard emphasised the significance of the operation, stating, “This operation has prevented a large number of gun parts from entering the UK. Such components could have been used to create or modify lethal weapons, potentially ending up in the hands of criminals. We remain committed, alongside our law enforcement partners, to protecting the public by preventing the distribution of illegal firearms on UK streets.”