Israeli Border Police nabbed a Palestinian weapons trafficking gang red-handed Saturday night, seizing an automatic assault rifle in the process.

The three suspects were arrested at Tapuach Junction in Samaria, after security forces received a tip off.

At around 10 p.m. Border Police officers at the junction identified the suspects’ vehicle, and immediately detained them for questioning.

Upon inspecting their vehicle police discovered an M-16 assault rifle hidden in three pieces, apparently ready to be sold.

The suspects – residents of Ramallah and Shechem – were taken in for further questioning by security services.