The Civil Guard dismantles the largest illegal point of sale of ammunition through the internet in our country
4 people have been arrested, including the one who in recent years had sold more than 36,000 metal cartridges of different calibers (including war ammunition)
More than 18,000 cartridges, 147 firearms, various explosive devices have been intervened, as well as 75 kg of projectiles, 33 kg of pods, 11,050 primers (primers), 2.5 kg of gunpowder, as well as machinery and tools intended for the artisan manufacture of metal ammunition
The Civil Guard, within the framework of the “SALVADO-ERMAS” operation carried out in the provinces of Madrid, Vizcaya, Pontevedra, Zaragoza, Lleida and Barcelona, has proceeded to the arrest of four people and the indictment (investigated but not detained) of two more for the crimes of Arms and Ammunition Trafficking, Arms and Ammunition Storage, Explosives Storage and Illicit Possession of Prohibited Firearms; also proceeding to the realization of 10 entries and searches where a multitude of weapons and other effects have been intervened.
To manufacture part of the ammunition, it had a clandestine workshop where, apart from the 18,000 cartridges already manufactured, more than 100 kg of projectiles, pods, primers and gunpowder were intervened, as well as the machinery and tools necessary for the artisan manufacture of metal cartridges of 30 different calibers, which were later illegally marketed over the internet.
At the time of the search of his home, this individual had a pistol that was ammunitioned and ready for use on the nightstand located next to the bed where he was at the time the agents broke in. In addition to this weapon, in a subsequent search of a warehouse-owned garage that was used as a security warehouse, a total of 59 more illegal firearms were intervened, most of them wrapped in plastic ready for sale and delivery to prospective buyers. A hand grenade, three mortar grenades and two rocket projectiles for a recoilless cannon and fundamental pieces of weapons were also intervened, among which many short weapon cannons, both new and semi-finished, stand out.
The Civil Guard agents also identified the other detained and investigated residents in the rest of the provinces, among which the person detained in Bilbao (Vizcaya) played a prominent role, in whom 77 firearms were intervened (including short arms , Long and prohibited), which he possessed illegally at his home.
This intervention has prevented the high number of ammunition and weapons seized from being used in violent acts or diverted to the black market.
Seized effects
- 100 short weapons (pistols and revolvers) and 33 long weapons
- 4 handcrafted firearms (trap cannons)
- 1 shotgun baton (prohibited weapon)
- 1 hand grenade, 3 mortar grenades, and two rocket shells.
- 7 flare guns and 2 line throwing rifles
- 29 loose handgun barrels and 5 revolver drums
- 18,196 metal cartridges of different calibers.
- 75 kg of projectiles and 33 kg of pods for the illegal manufacture of metal ammunition
- 2.5 kg of gunpowder and 11,050 pistons (primers) for the manufacture of metallic ammunition.
- Reloading presses, plungers and 32 sets of DIEs for the illegal manufacture of metal cartridges of as many calibers for short weapons and long weapons.
This operation is part of the Comprehensive Plan for the Control of Firearms (PICAF) of the Civil Guard which, as the competent body at the national level for the control of weapons and explosives, exercises exhaustively. Since the entry into force of the aforementioned PICAF in 2015, more than 85 operations have been carried out against arms trafficking networks with 404 people arrested, more than 4,536 firearms seized (many of them from war), 561,386 metal cartridges intervened, 183 kilos of explosive substances seized and 18 clandestine workshops dismantled.
