A Polish man has been jailed after attempting to smuggle dozens of firearms into the UK hidden in his car.

Eryk Mariusz Kiler, 44, was sentenced to nine years in prison following a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into the incident at the Port of Dover.

Guns hidden in Renault Scenic

On 15 May, Border Force officers at Dover stopped Kiler’s Renault Scenic as it arrived from mainland Europe. A search uncovered 61 self-loading pistols concealed within the vehicle.

The firearms were seized immediately, and Kiler was arrested at the scene before being charged with firearms offences.

NCA: “Major threat taken off the streets”

The NCA described the haul as a “significant seizure”, warning that such a volume of weapons would likely have ended up in the hands of organised criminal groups in the UK.

An NCA spokesperson said:

“These weapons posed a major threat to public safety. By intercepting them before they could reach criminal networks, we have prevented potential shootings and serious violence.”

Sentencing

Appearing at court, Kiler admitted the offences and was handed a nine-year custodial sentence.

The NCA confirmed it continues to work closely with Border Force and international partners to tackle the trafficking of firearms into the UK.