POLICE swooped on a house in Inverclyde and cracked an international gun smuggling operation.

Organised crime officers targeted the property at Nursery Gardens in Inverkip and arrested 19-year-old Ryan Bonner.

The move by Police Scotland in conjunction with the National Crime Agency came after a package containing a firearm was intercepted on its way to Scotland.

Class A drug ecstasy was seized in a connected subsequent search of another property, which resulted in the arrest of 20-year-old Jonathan Paxton.

Both men pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to firearms and drugs offences.

Detective Inspector Tom Gillan of the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) — a collaboration of officers from Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency — said: "The illegal acquisition and possession of firearms will not be tolerated in Scotland and any such crime will be thoroughly investigated.

"The public can be reassured that the OCP will use all legitimate means to remove threat, risk and harm from the communities of Scotland posed by organised crime.

"I would like to thank our partner law enforcement agencies for all assistance provided during this investigation and would urge anyone with information surrounding illegal firearms to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

National Crime Agency operations John McGowan added: "This operation prevented a deadly firearm and a quantity of illegal drugs from reaching the streets of Scotland.

"The Organised Crime Partnership brings together specialist officers and capabilities from the NCA and Police Scotland, and enables us to protect the people of Scotland from threats that come from well beyond our shores.

"Working together we are determined to do all we can to stop the flow of illegal guns and drugs, and tackle the organised criminality that has a devastating impact on our communities."

The police operation to arrest Bonner and Paxton took place on December 3, 2019.

They are due to be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow next month.