An employee at a rocket engine factory in the central Russia city of Voronezh has been charged with making, storing and trafficking firearms, the Lifenews.ru portal reported on Thursday.
The 38-year old worker made pistols and rifles at his workplace, secretly removed them from the factory premises, and then sold them, police said.
Police acted on a tip-off but it took them at least a year to catch the suspect red handed.
The Voronezh Mechanical Plant has manufactured engines for the Energia-Buran, Vostok, Soyuz, Proton and other space systems.
It also makes aircraft engines, as well as parts and components for rail and motor transport systems.
