A south London man has been jailed after trying to import a haul of loaded guns hidden in a microwave from the US.
Edward Pink, 46, from Streatham, and his brother Cadien Pink, 41, of Surrey, were sentenced to fourteen years imprisonment at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, February 20.
They were convicted of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life.
Detective Chief Inspector Ant Jones of the Specialist Crime Command said “lives will have been saved as a result”.
On June 28, 2022, US authorities became suspicious of a parcel being sent from Florida to a business address in Newham.
On searching the package, they discovered a microwave packed with four loaded firearms including two Glock 19 Gen 5 pistols, a Glock 17 Gen 5 pistol, one Taurus G2C pistol, plus 59 rounds of ammunition.
US authorities alerted the Met’s Specialist Crime Command who arrested the Pink brothers following an investigation.
Cadien Pink denied ordering the guns. When shown a voice note where the US contact asks him to name the make, model and specification, he insisted they were talking about hair clippers for his mobile barbering business.
Detective Chief Inspector Ant Jones, Specialist Crime Command, said: “The Met has fantastic working relationships with partner law enforcement agencies all over the world.
“It’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.”
HSI London Attaché Tim Hemker, said: “Homeland Security Investigations 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 organised crimes, like weapons smuggling, to help bring criminals to justice that seek to circumvent laws and do harm worldwide.”
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