MOSCOW, March 20 (RAPSI) – Russians and Ukrainians smuggled weapons from EU countries to the North Caucasus via Ukraine, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Thursday.

“We have information that the [group’s] members bought large amounts of short barrel weapons in an EU country and delivered them to Ukraine, where they were stashed in secret vehicle compartments and smuggled to the North Caucasus,” the statement reads. Several Russian and Ukrainian nationals have been detained in the case.

The FSB said that the suspects were in possession of Desert Eagle, Smith & Wesson, SIG Sauer and other guns when they were detained at the Donetsk-Izvarino international vehicle checkpoint. Their accomplices in the North Caucasus were detained the same day. In all, 40 guns were confiscated.

The FSB has not indicated how the weapons might have been used or by whom.