Two men have been charged after a handgun, ammunition and £30,000 cash was seized in Hertfordshire.
Armed National Crime Agency officers intercepted a VW Golf in Radlett, near Watford.
The driver and passenger were arrested and taken to custody for questioning.
In a bag stashed behind the motorist’s seat, officers recovered a semi-automatic pistol loaded with five rounds of ammunition, as well as a lock knife.
More than £30,000 in cash and over 3.3 kilos of cannabis was subsequently seized during a property search on October 29.
Daniel Pickavance, 27, of Otley Way, Watford, and David Toal, 54, appeared at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court on Friday accused of five counts, including possession of a prohibited weapon and ammunition.
Toal, of Waterside, London Colney, faces a separate allegation of breaching the terms of his licence.
Both men were remanded in custody until their next appearance at St Albans Crown Court on December 2.
NCA senior investigating officer Tim Lambert said: “Our fast-paced operation has removed a viable firearm and bullets from the streets.
“This lethal weapon could have caused untold damage to our communities.
“The NCA is committed to protecting the public from the threat of firearms, and our work with partners in the UK and overseas to suppress their availability continues.”
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