A man has been charged with possession of a firearm after he was arrested yesterday as part of an investigation into the supply of drugs and firearms in Ireland and the UK.
51-year-old Thomas Kavanagh, with an address in Tamworth, was detained as he arrived at Birmingham Airport yesterday morning.
He was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to import and supply drugs, firearms and ammunition, as well as money laundering.
UK National Crime Agency officers, supported by colleagues from An Garda Síochána and Staffordshire Police, conducted a number of searches
They recovered a combination torch and stun gun - an item which is illegal to own and possess in the UK.
Mr Kavanagh was remanded in custody overnight and will appear at a court in the UK tomorrow.
A 20-year-old was also arrested as part of the investigation.
He has since been released under investigation.
Two men from Staffordshire have been arrested as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the supply of drugs and firearms in Ireland and the United Kingdom. @gardainfo @StaffsPolice
Read more: https://t.co/NJyT1cQ3eF pic.twitter.com/jLjfspDXFh
— NationalCrimeAgency (@NCA_UK) January 12, 2019
The NCA says a third man (19) was was also arrested, and has now been released under investigation.
Speaking after the arrests yesterday, Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll of the Special Crime Operations said: "For the purpose of tackling organised crime groups An Garda Siochána has commenced the new year in the manner in which it intends to proceed in 2019, by engaging in the most impactful possible co-operation with law enforcement authorities, at an international level.
"In this regard the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) is one of our most important allies, with whom we share a common desire to put organised crime groups who operate within the common travel area out of business."
