Two wannabe arms dealers have been jailed after police uncovered their plot to sell on guns they had made at home using a 3D printer.
Sibusiso Moyo and Christopher Gill were sentenced today to more than 30 years between them for illegally manufacturing firearms in what is thought to be the first prosecution of its kind.
Officers discovered DIY guns alongside bullets and other gun-making equipment in a dramatic swoop on 46-year-old associate Majeed Rehman's BMW on May 17 last year.
Shocking footage shows the moment the cops found 'FGC9' homemade automatic sub-machine gun, magazine and bullets hidden in a supermarket bag-for-life in the rear footwell of the vehicle.
Their discovery came after CCTV showed a man, later identified as Gill, getting into the BMW while carrying the shopping bag.
A raid then followed on Moyo's and Gill's addresses in Bradford and Hull, where further weapons including two almost complete FGC9s were found.
Described as a hybrid 3D printed gun with metal parts, they were established to have been manufactured on a kitchen worktop and in a home garage.
Police say they were destined to be used in organised crime.
Appearing before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, 41-year-old Moyo from Hull was jailed for 18 years after being found guilty of illegally manufacturing a firearm following a trial, as a separate identity fraud offence.
Gill, 35, from Bradford, who was found guilty of illegally manufacturing a firearm, was jailed for 13 years and 8 months.
Speaking after the sentencing, Senior Investigating Officer Det Chf Inspector Andrew Howard of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YH ROCU) said: “Today, two men who were involved in the manufacture, supply and distribution of privately-manufactured 3D printed automatic weapons have received significant sentences for their roles.
“Our investigation found that Sibusiso Moyo and Christopher Gill followed detailed instructions and systematically bought items used to manufacture and construct these deadly firearms and ammunition.
“They demonstrated levels of sophistication in the manufacture processes and successfully produced viable firearms.
“Majeeb Rehman a close criminal associate, was found guilty of distributing one of the viable FGC9, a 3D printed firearm with an ammunition clip containing eight live rounds of ammunition.
“Manufacture of viable 3D printed firearms is a real threat and these firearms were built for one purpose only, to be supplied to other organised criminals who would use them to inflict harm.
Matt Perfect, Operations Manager at the National Crime Agency (NCA) National Firearms Targeting Centre, said: “The NCA’s National Firearms Targeting Centre coordinates the national intelligence picture on firearms and played a key and decisive role in this investigation working alongside the YH ROCU.
“This OCG was the first in the UK convicted of trying to supply other criminal groups with 3D printed firearms.
“Gun crime in the UK continues to be relatively low compared to mainland Europe and is among the lowest in the world.
“However, demand for firearms in the criminal market continues. Suppressing their availability is therefore a national priority for the NCA and UK law enforcement.
“The NCA works closely with our policing partners at home and abroad to target criminals using firearms, and to cut off supply routes into the country as well as distribution within it.”
Rehman from Bradford, was found guilty of possession of ammunition and conspiracy to transfer a prohibited firearm. He will be sentenced at a later date.
