Retired man found with arsenal of over 3,000 rounds of ammunition and firearms

Police in Croatia have confiscated a substantial arsenal, including over 3,000 rounds of ammunition and multiple firearms, from a 78-year-old pensioner. The discovery was made following an investigation initiated by a citizen tip received through a mobile application.

The suspect, who is not named but is described as a retiree, was found to be illegally acquiring firearms that are prohibited for civilian possession. He had concealed the weapons at two separate locations: his residence in Samobor and another property on the island of Vir. The investigation was conducted by officers from the Zagreb Police Department in collaboration with the Zadar Police Department.

During a search of the Samobor property, executed under a warrant from the County Court in Velika Gorica, police uncovered nine automatic rifles of various makes and calibers, two rifles of unknown origin, a Škorpion automatic pistol with a magazine, and two other pistols. The seizure also included signal flares, incendiary armor-piercing ammunition, illuminating and training rounds for a rocket launcher, a slow-burning fuse, several ammunition magazines, rifle grenade launchers, a bolt for a bolt-action rifle, and a total of 3,401 rounds of various ammunition.

A subsequent search of the Vir property yielded an additional 101 rounds of ammunition. Following the investigation, the suspect was handed over to a detention supervisor, and a criminal complaint has been filed with the competent state attorney's office. The case highlights the ongoing efforts to combat illegal weapons possession in the country.