Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Headline: Two jailed for possession of revolver and Samurai sword
Two men were jailed on Friday, 9 February, for a total of nine and a half years after being caught in possession of a loaded gun and a Samurai sword.
Following a week-long trial at Inner London Crown Court, Mucktar Khan, 19 (02.02.99) of Tavy Close, Kennington, was convicted of possession of a firearm and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.
Joshua Eduardo, 18 (8.3.99) of Kennington Park Road, Vauxhall, pleaded guilty to the same charges at an earlier hearing. He was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment.
The pair were caught as the result of an intelligence-led operation carried out by the Met’s Trident and Area Crime Command on 15 February 2017.
Armed officers pulled over a taxi carrying Khan and Eduardo just after 01:00hrs in Albany Road, Camberwell.
Eduardo was found in possession of a bag containing a loaded revolver which was fully cocked. Two rounds of the firearm appeared to have been fired.
Eduardo also had a Samurai sword, which he sought to conceal by putting it down his trouser leg as the vehicle was stopped by police.
When searched, Khan was found to be wearing ballistic body armour and had a balaclava in his possession.
The firearm was examined at the Met’s Firearms Forensics Unit and was identified as a Hinge Frame Webley Revolver of .32 calibre.
Khan was also found guilty of a Section 49 Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) offence after he failed to disclose a PIN number for a mobile phone.
Detective Constable Martin Reader from the Met’s Trident and Area Crime Command said: “As the result of a proactive, intelligence-led operation these two men were caught in possession of two lethal weapons.
“Trident detectives work tirelessly to remove illegal firearms and knives from the streets of London.
“The lengthy custodial sentences handed to these two defendants reflect the potentially fatal consequences of possessing a loaded gun and a Samurai sword in a public place.”
Both defendants were found not guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.