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Cuxton weapon smuggling trial jury shown video of bags being unloaded from a boat on the River Medway

The jury in the trial of four people accused of smuggling the biggest-ever haul of weapons into the UK has been shown a video showing bags being unloaded from a boat in Cuxton.

The footage was filmed by the National Crime Agency in August last year after officers had been watching a Medway-based gang for weeks.

The video shows three holdalls and a large suitcase being unloaded from the Albernina boat into a white van parked alongside the mooring.

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The bags are loaded from the boat into a white van
The bags are loaded from the boat into a white van

The three men are wearing blue plastic gloves. A second video shows armed police swooping on the motorboat at Trenchman's Wharf near Cuxton Marina.

The jury have already heard four gang members imported automatic rifles and sub-machine guns “capable of unleashing carnage on a terrifying scale” into the UK from France.

The “evil cargo”, worth more than £100,000, included 22 Czech-made assault rifles (closely resembling AK47s), nine Skorpian sub-machine guns and a large amount of live ammunition.

VIDEO: Footage shows the guns being unloaded

Jennifer Arthy, 42, and John Smale, 58, both of Rochester Road, Halling; Harry Shilling, 25, of Raspberry Hill Farm, Iwade; and Michael Defraine, 30, of Franklin Road, Bexleyheath; have pleaded not guilty to the illegal importation of firearms and possessing firearms with intent to endanger life.

Duncan Atkinson QC opened the case for the prosecution at the Old Bailey last week.

The men come out from below deck with their arms in the air
The men come out from below deck with their arms in the air

He said: “The items that they imported were deadly weapons that would find willing purchasers on the UK drugs market and amongst criminal gangs who lend or hire out these weapons, each of which was fully functional.

“The prosecution’s case is that the defendants intended these guns to be used, and to be used with ammunition for the purpose for which they were designed – as lethal weapons capable of unleashing carnage on a terrifying scale – and they clearly intended to profit from doing so.”

Skorpian machine pistols seized near Cuxton Marina
Skorpian machine pistols seized near Cuxton Marina
Guns seized near Cuxton Marina
Guns seized near Cuxton Marina

Three others - Arthy’s partner of eight years David Payne, 42; Richard Rye, 24, of Lime Road, Swanley; and Christopher Owen, 30, of Bush Road, Cuxton – have already pleaded guilty to the charges.

Mr Atkinson explained that the plan to import the weapons was not in dispute, but it was for the jurors to decide who was involved in the plan.

The trial, which is expected to last four weeks, continues.

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