We are often told that Muslims are a potential danger to the UK, people who may cause death and destruction. Now a gang of five white men, all apparently from a Christian country, have been convicted of trying to smuggle a vast haul of rifles and guns into the UK – weapons which could have wounded and even killed hundreds people.
The convictions result from a surveillance operation conducted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) which ended in armed police arresting gang member David Payne as he brought their haul, in a small boat, into Kent. Working with the Border Force, the National Maritime Information centre and the Kent police, the NCA tracked Payne and his boat as he went to France, collected the weapons, and then returned to Kent first to Rochester and then moored further down the river Medway, near Cuxton.
The weapons found on the boat included assault rifles and machines pistols, along with ammunition. It is thought that this is the largest seizure of automatic weapons ever made on the UK mainland. As well as providing evidence in the prosecutions, the NCA is working with similar agencies across Europe to try to trace the source of the weapons.
Harry Shilling and Michael Defraine were found guilty of various firearms offences at the Old Bailey after a six week trial.
David Payne, who sailed the weapons to the UK; Christopher Owen, who helped take them off the boat, and Richard Rye had all pleased guilty to offences arising from their involvement in the importation of the weapons and preparations to sell them on. They are expected to return to the Court for sentencing on 13th May.
Rob Lewin, Head of Specialist Operations at the NCA, said, “These are hugely powerful firearms, and have, as the prosecution stated in court, a ‘truly devastating capability’. We cannot say for certain what the organised crime group would have done with the weapons had they not been stopped. But the evidence pointed to them not being afraid to use guns themselves to expand their influence. I have no doubt that together we have protected the public and saved lives.”
•Photos: NCA
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