Two men have been jailed for 20 years combined after a plot to transfer a prohibited sawn-off shotgun and ammunition in Nottinghamshire was foiled.
Following an investigation by EMSOU, and supported by Nottinghamshire Police, the men were arrested in December 2020 in Bestwood. A bag containing a bedsheet, in which the firearm and eight cartridges were wrapped, was recovered.
The pair were jailed for 11 years, eight months, and eight years, four months, respectively, after pleading guilty to conspiring to transfer a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition when prohibited. Drugs offences were also admitted by one of the men.
Detective Inspector Mark Adas said: “This was an extensive investigation which involved some great investigative work from experts in the region and has resulted in a lethal firearm and two dangerous men being removed from our streets.
“Telephone evidence provided a clear story surrounding the event on 30 December 2020 which involved them arranging handover of the weapon and subsequently reacting to police activity.
“Seizures of this nature protect the public and are an invaluable part of our fight against organised crime."
Firearms offences are treated extremely seriously by police, who remain committed to taking weapons off the streets. If you have any information about illegal firearms, contact police immediately on 101. Otherwise, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 in an emergency.