The Turkish driver of the vehicle was detained and police launched an investigation into the incident, the deputy governor of the southeastern border province of Sirnak, Resul Celik, told Anatolia news agency.

The cache, discovered in the truck after it entered Turkey from the Habur crossing point, included 28 firearms -- among them 20 Kalashnikov rifles and four Kanas-type rifles usually used in assassinations -- as well as "a great number" of hand grenades, mines, bullets and explosives, Celik said.

Last month, police in the region seized some 100 guns and thousands of bullets hidden in three trucks carrying wheat from Iraq, which were thought to have been destined for sale at the underground market.

Turkish security forces are on high alert ahead of a NATO summit in Istanbul next week, which US President George W. Bush will attend.

Southeastern Turkey has been the scene of a bloody Kurdish rebellion for self-rule. The rebels ended a five-year unilateral ceasefire with Ankara June

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