Remscheid arms dealer sentenced to six and a half years in prison

A 60-year-old mechanic from Remscheid has been sentenced to six years and six months in prison by the Wuppertal Regional Court for illegal arms trafficking. The sentence follows a plea agreement in which the defendant confessed to his crimes.

The conviction stems from one of the largest discoveries of military weaponry in Germany in recent decades. Police uncovered four hidden weapon chambers beneath the defendant's car workshop, a process that took several weeks to complete.

Authorities seized approximately 300 firearms, including 125 machine guns, 67 machine pistols, 51 pistols, 32 long guns, precision rifles, and 11 revolvers. The arsenal also contained 13 anti-tank weapons, 38 hand grenades, and nearly 100,000 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, Nazi-era uniforms were found at the site.

The defendant admitted to purchasing 70 Skorpion model machine pistols in Poland. The court also ordered the seizure of 74,000 euros.