A man has been arrested in Cannock after police discovered an ornamental shotgun and two axes in the boot of a car, in an incident they believe may be linked to wider criminal activity.
Vehicle stopped following police alert
Officers from Staffordshire Police were first alerted to a suspicious vehicle being driven around Cannock on the evening of Thursday, 16 January 2026. The car was flagged as being potentially linked to criminal activity.
The driver was followed by police until he eventually came to a stop at approximately 8pm. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officers decided to conduct a search.
Weapons and drug drive suspicion
During the search of the car's boot, police uncovered the cache of weapons: an ornamental shotgun and two axes. A roadside drug test was subsequently administered to the driver, which provided a positive result.
The 34-year-old man, who is from the Walsall area, was immediately arrested. He was taken into custody on suspicion of multiple offences:
- Possessing an imitation firearm in a public place.
- Possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
- Drug driving.
The suspect remained in police custody as of Friday morning, 16 January.
Part of wider crackdown on organised crime
Staffordshire Police confirmed the arrest was made under Operation Target, their ongoing initiative to tackle serious and organised crime across the county.
A force spokesperson provided context, stating: "Between July 2024 and July 2025, nearly 400 people were arrested in connection with organised crime offences and 40 weapons were recovered."
They emphasised that this work is continuous, adding: "This commitment is continuing every single day across Staffordshire as we continue to take robust action against those responsible."
