Seven people charged in connection with one of the largest seizures of guns and ammunition ever made in the UK appeared before the Old Bailey yesterday (Thursday).

Officers seized 22 automatic assault rifles and nine 9 Skorpion machine pistols in an operation in Medway on Tuesday, August 18. They also found 1,000 live rounds of ammunition in the seizure near Cuxton Marina.

Eight people – seven men and a woman aged between 24 and 58 – were detained by the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) armed operations unit and officers from Kent Police.

Three men and a woman were initially arrested near the A228 in Cuxton, another three men detained at a location in Orpington and one at an address in Swanley.

The man in Swanley was released on bail while the others charged with importing and possessing firearms.

The guns were allegedly seized in holdalls and a suitcase, which also contained numerous magazines and ammunition, from a van as it left a site near the marina.

It followed the arrival of the MV Albernina, a motor cruiser, which had travelled to the UK from France.

Deputy director Graham Gardner from the NCA said: “This was an extremely significant seizure, the largest of its kind in the UK.

“We are still in the early stages of a significant investigation which will continue for some time.”

The seven initially appeared on via video link at Medway Magistrates’ Court, and on Thursday appeared before the Old Bailey.

Proceedings were delayed as the group were late arriving, but all were eventually seen.

The seven are David Payne, 42, Jennifer Arthy, 41 and John Smale, 58, of Rochester Road, Halling; Christopher Owen 30, of Bush Road, Cuxton; Harry Shilling, 22, of Hart Road, Swanley; Michael Defraine, 29, of Franklin Road, Bexleyheath and Richard Rye, 24, of Lime Road, Swanley.

Arthy appeared via videolink from prison for the hearing for a bail application, but that was adjourned until Thursday, September 10.

The rest were remanded in custody and had their cases adjourned for a plea and case management hearing on November 2.

The 28-year-old man from Swanley has been released on bail pending further enquiries until Thursday, September 24.