Guns find 'linked to drugs trade'

The guns were recovered in woodland near Menai Bridge

Three handguns and ammunition believed to have belonged to drug dealers have been found in a woodland in north Wales.

Police say the weapons were discovered in a wooded area on Anglesey between the Menai and Britannia bridges, after an investigation code-named Exodus.

Two of the self-loading guns are similar to the automatic Walther PPK - the third similar to a 9mm Browning.

Around a dozen rounds of ammunition were also found that could have been used with the recovered weapons.

Deputy Chief Constable Bill Brereton said he had no doubt about the importance of the find.

"These are the type of weapons commonly used in the drugs trade or to enforce the drugs trade," he said.

"Had these weapons not been recovered they would have been put to ill-use."

The guns were found as part of an "extensive intelligence-led operation" which is ongoing.

An Uzi sub-machine gun was found near Conwy marina

The Walther PPK was made famous in James Bond books and film. The Browning 9mm is NATO issue.

Earlier this year an Uzi sub-machine gun with 32 live rounds inside was found on the outskirts of Conwy.

North Wales Police described the discovery as "a sign of our times."

They said the Uzi gun, which was found abandoned in a bag near Conwy marina in March, was linked to the growing problem of drugs-related crime in north Wales.

Officers believed it was linked to armed criminality and said it was the "preferred weapon for criminals in the drugs world."