| 21 October 2011
Vigilance can confirm that the police yesterday arrested three men suspected of being involved in the supply of firearms within south London, following a pro-active investigation by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) Central Task Force.
According to a Met source the arrests, all men - two aged 45 [A/B] and one aged 25 [C] - are the culmination of a ten month operation which earlier this year saw four firearms and a significant amount of ammunition recovered at various addresses in Croydon and Lewisham.
The investigation, codenamed Operation Dhanni, targeted organised criminal networks and the unlawful supply of firearms and ammunition to gang members, predominantly in the south London area.
The weapons and ammunition are said to be of the type which officers believed would otherwise be used in violent crimes across south London.
The firearms seized between May and July in connection with this investigation include:
- a Browning 12 bore over and under sawn-off gun
- a Webley .445 revolver handgun
- a Star 9 semi-automatic handgun
- a converted .22 Brockock revolver handgun
In addition to this approximately 36 rounds of both factory and home made ammunition were also seized in this timeframe.
Officers spent months gathering intelligence and evidence on the suspects which led to today's arrests.
Detective Superintendent Caroline Barker of the Central Task Force said “This is a significant recovery of both firearms and ammunition for the Met which has reduced the threat of gun crime in this area. For every weapon that that is taken off the streets of London it disrupts the possibility of that weapon being used in violent and criminal activity.
“As part of the ongoing wider drive to tackle gang related violence we will continue to target those involved in the supply of weapons to gang members and their associates.