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Over 10,000 firearms seized in Spain: Europol

Xinhua, January 17, 2017 Adjust font size:

The European Police Office (Europol) coordinated an investigation into the illicit trafficking of firearms in Spain, Europol said in a statement Monday.

Spanish police carried out an operation with the collaboration of Europol last week, arresting five individuals and searching six houses in three Spanish provinces.

During the operation, more than 10,000 firearms were seized, as well as 80,000 euros (84,700 U.S. dollars) in cash.

The organized crime groups are suspected of illegally selling firearms, components, and ammunition in Spain and other European countries, according to the statement.

The crime groups also sold deactivated firearms which did not comply with the existing rules. A lot of these were assault rifles and hand guns.

Europol is to analyze the information gathered during the operation and identify potential links with other criminal activity.

EU member states agreed on a new firearms regulation last December to address security challenges in the bloc. Endit