Over 700 firearms were confiscated in the UK after a five-year operation with the Spanish police to stop the import of easily convertible weapons into the country, PA Media reports.

So far, the UK has seized 703 firearms, made 74 arrests and 50 convictions, searched 133 premises.

The operation involved Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) and Spanish Guardia Civil, responsible for the national control of firearms in the country.

Reports showed 11 cases of handover of firearms to people with mental health problems and seven cases associated with persons holding extremist views or posing a potential terrorist threat.