Ex-US marine 'smuggled 80 guns on flights into Britain'

AN AMERICAN has been accused of smuggling 80 weapons into Britain on passenger flights - sparking fears over transatlantic security.

Former US marine Steven Greenoe, who holds British citizenship, was arrested in July. He is accused of bringing guns to Britain on 10 flights between February and July last year. Police believe they were then sold to criminal gangs in the Manchester area.

The revelations are an embarrassment for transatlantic security and for the UK Border Agency. An investigation is understood to have been launched after police in the North-West recovered a number of new guns.

US court papers allege the 37-year-old was buying guns legally in America before selling them on with a huge mark-up in the UK.

As many as 60 of the weapons are believed to be unaccounted for. Police are investigating whether a gun used in a drive-by shooting in Manchester last year was one of those brought in by Greenoe.