POLICE have charged three men suspected of involvement in a gun-running investigation.
Keston Joseph, 31, from Coventry, and Dashan Caines, 44, from Sutton Coldfield, were both arrested on March 5.
The pair have been charged with conspiracy to supply firearms into the UK.
Their detention follows the arrest of Dion Curt Roberts, aged 31, from Meriden, on January 31 – he was charged with two offences of attempting to possess firearms and one offence of attempting to possess live ammunition.
A spokeswoman for the National Crime Agency said: “Our investigation started after Border Force officers seized firearms and ammunition at a parcel hub in the Midlands on 24 January.
“A package from Florida in the US, supposedly containing car parts, was opened to reveal an electronic safe. Two semi-automatic pistols and hollow-point bullets were concealed inside.”
Officers added that Keston Joseph was previously arrested in connection with the parcel on January 31, and was released under investigation on February 1.
NCA Operations Manager Mick Pope said: “This investigation concerns the attempted importation of lethal firearms, which would have been highly sought after by violent criminal groups in the West Midlands and beyond.
“The level of gun crime in the UK is one of the lowest in the world, but eliminating the criminal use of firearms is still a high priority for the NCA.
“We are determined to keep the public safe from those who seek to use guns and violence in their communities.”
Both Caines and Joseph will appear at Birmingham Crown Court in early April 2020, having been remanded in custody at Birmingham Magistrates Court on March 6 2020.
