Hungarian police have questioned three men on suspicion of illegal firearms offences after uncovering an operation that allegedly imported air guns from Poland and sold them at Budapest’s Józsefváros Market, authorities announced on Friday.
According to the National Bureau of Investigation of the Rapid Response Police (KR NNI), the investigation began last year after officers received information that an Armenian national was storing and selling large quantities of air guns from a tool shop at the market.
Investigators found that the weapons had been purchased in Poland by a 38-year-old man from Pest County and transported to Hungary with the assistance of a 49-year-old accomplice from Heves County. The firearms were allegedly sold at the Budapest market by a 55-year-old Armenian citizen.
The two transporters were arrested at the Milhosť (Migléc)-Tornyosnémeti border crossing between Slovakia and Hungary. Police discovered 122 air guns in their vans, a further 91 at properties linked to the 38-year-old suspect in Pest County, and another 151 at the market shop.
During searches carried out at six locations, officers also seized a truck, more than HUF 8 million in cash and over EUR 20,000.
Police said preliminary examinations indicated that several of the confiscated air guns use compressed-air technology and may significantly exceed the legal muzzle energy threshold applicable under Hungarian law.
While air guns with muzzle energy below 17 joules can be legally purchased in Poland, Hungarian legislation classifies models exceeding 7.5 joules as firearms. Authorities said the legal classification of the entire seized arsenal will be determined through expert examination.
All three suspects were questioned on suspicion of illegal possession of firearms following their arrest, police said.
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