A gang who flooded the streets of London with guns and ammunition has been sentenced to almost 20 years in prison.
The illicit network of armourers was convicted of supplying firearms to the criminal underworld after a police investigation found the gang were meeting in a garden shed to discuss arms deals.
The jury at Croydon Crown Court heard that officers from the Met's Trident and Area Crime Command discovered a bedroom armoury and recovered five hand guns, 300 rounds of ammunition and 2,000 bullet casings. Equipment used to manufacture firearms and ammunition was also recovered.
James Walsh, 40, of Wilkinson Gardens, Croydon, who held the meetings in his garden shed, had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon, namely a Magnum revolver.
He was found guilty of conspiracy to sell or transfer firearms, and was sentenced to a total of nine years' imprisonment.
Henry (Harry) McGuire, 62, of Branksome Road, Lambeth, was found guilty of conspiracy to sell or transfer firearms and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, and Maxwell Jarrett, 29, of Highfield Hill, Croydon, was found guilty of conspiracy to sell or transfer firearms and was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment.
John Remi, 48, of Derwent Road, Bromley, was found guilty of encouraging or assisting in the selling or transfer of firearms and was sentenced to fifteen months imprisonment, and Jason Flemming, 41, of Martell Road, Lambeth, was found guilty of encouraging or assisting in the selling or transfer firearms and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
In total the gang were ordered to spend 19 years behind bars.
They were caught after Trident carried out simultaneous raids of Walsh's and McGuire's addresses, finding a Magnum revolver at Walsh's home.
A search of McGuire's address in Brixton uncovered an armoury in the first floor bedroom, containing in excess of 2,000 homemade bullet casings and bullet heads, along with a bullet press with associated bullet dyes, moulds and re-loading equipment, and well as black gunpowder and live ammunition, as well as manuals on how to make ammunitions and bombs.
Bomb disposal were called out after police also discovered inert grenades, mortars, railway detonator caps, industrial bangers and flare explosive devices hidden in the house.
Detective Inspector Paul Dorey from Trident, who oversaw the investigation said: "We are pleased with the sentencing of these five dangerous criminals, who were intent on endangering people's lives through the supply of firearms to south London gangs.
"Following a complex and protracted investigation by Trident officers, a number of firearms, ammunition and manufacturing equipment has been seized together with manuals featuring instructions on homemade firearm and bomb making assembly.
"These convictions serve as another reminder to anybody involved in the possession, supply and use of firearms that officers from Trident will continue to actively pursue and place them before the courts."
Temporary Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Southworth added: "This is a great result for Trident officers, whose determination to bring down this illicit 'business' has paid off.
"The weapons these men were supplying had the potential to wreak havoc. The streets of the capital are significantly safer with these men behind bars."
