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FSB nabs members of crime gang smuggling arms from EU to Russia

Russia’s Federal Security Service has detained members of a criminal group consisting of residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yaroslavl

© Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, July 23. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service has detained members of a criminal group consisting of residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yaroslavl over smuggling arms from the European Union to Russia, the press service said.

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The operation was carried out jointly with the Russian Interior Ministry and the National Guard (Rosgvardiya).

"As a result of the search operation and investigative activities at the detained persons’ places of residence, 380 pieces of firearms produced at home and abroad (25 machine guns, 30 assault rifles, 70 submachine guns, 94 carbines, rifles and guns, 158 pistols and revolvers, 2 anti-tank rifles) were seized," the press service said.

The officers also seized a 45mm infantry mortar, an AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher, a self-made explosive device, 15 fragmentation hand grenades, more than 4,500 rounds of ammunition, silencers, and a large amount of firearms components.

"Two warehouses for modernizing firearms and manufacturing rounds of ammunition ceased their activities," the statement said.

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