Two brothers have been jailed for attempting to import loaded guns into London from the US, hidden inside a microwave.
Edward Pink, 46, of Namba Ray Close in Lambeth and Cadien Pink, 41, from Surrey, were on Monday sentenced to more than a decade behind bars for their part in the operation.
Croydon Crown Court heard that on June 28 last year, US authorities intercepted a parcel that had been sent from Florida to a business address in the London borough of Newham, after suspicious objects were spotted inside it during a scan.
Inside the package, they discovered a microwave containing four loaded guns - two Glock 19 Gen 5 pistols; a Glock 17 Gen 5 pistol; one Taurus G2C pistol and 59 rounds of ammunition.
Serial numbers had been removed from every firearm.
US authorities seized the guns and alerted Scotland Yard’s Specialist Crime Command, and a joint investigation was launched.
On July 12 last year, the Pink brothers were arrested, charged and remanded in custody.
Cadien Pink denied any involvement.
When presented with a recorded voice note from his mobile phone - in which he was instructed by the US contact he was ordering from to name his make, model and specification - he insisted it related to an order for hair clippers for his mobile barbering business.
Edward and Cadien Pink were both convicted at Croydon Crown Court on February 10 of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life.
On Monday, they were sentenced to 12 years and 14 years respectively for each count, to run concurrently.
Det Ch Insp Ant Jones, Specialist Crime Command, said he believes “lives will have been saved” on the streets of London as a result of the operation.
“The Met has fantastic working relationships with partner law enforcement agencies all over the world,” he said. “t’s because of our work with our colleagues in HSI that we have successfully prevented a number of lethal weapons from falling into the wrong hands here; and successfully brought to justice those who conspired to import them for use on the streets of London.
“I’ve no doubt that this partnership working means that lives will have been saved as a result.
“Firearms are inextricably linked to gangs, drugs markets and organised crime groups and we will stop at nothing to disrupt the use and supply of firearms on the streets of London.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) London Attaché Tim Hemker, said: “HSI values its partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service and today’s sentencings highlight the impact exemplary international collaboration can have on the safety of communities we serve.
“HSI will continue to work with international law enforcement partners to investigate and combat transnational organized crimes, like weapons smuggling, to help bring criminals to justice that seek to circumvent laws and do harm worldwide.”
