Two men have been charged after police found a machine gun in a Camberwell traffic stop on Monday (November 15).
Thomas Burke, 53, of London Road, Croydon, and Brian Divengele, 31, of Brookhill Road, Greenwich, were charged on Tuesday (November 16) with possession of a prohibited automatic weapon.
Specialist officers stopped two cars driving in convoy on Monday.
Burke and Divengele will appear in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (November 17).
It comes after detectives seized a fully automatic submachine gun in Camberwell, after finding it hidden in a car speaker.
Led by intelligence, detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, with armed officers, stopped two cars driving in convoy in Crossthwaite Avenue, near Green Dale Fields..
Officers found a PM63 RAK machine pistol, capable of fully automatic fire, hidden within a speaker on the rear seat of one of the cars. The firearm was made safe and has been sent off for testing.
The drivers of the vehicles were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent. They were taken to a south London police station where they remain in custody.
Detective Chief Inspector Victoria Sullivan, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “We remain dedicated to making London a safer place for everyone by carrying out operations such as this one. We will continue to disrupt those intent on committing violent crime on our streets.”
Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Smith, from the Central South Command which covers Southwark and Lambeth, said: “I know this lethal weapon being recovered on the streets of Southwark will cause concern for local residents. But let me assure you that firearms have no place on our streets and we are doing everything in our power to arrest those who carry and supply guns.
“However, we cannot tackle this issue alone and we rely on information from the public to help us to robustly tackle gun crime. Any information you have, no matter how small, can really help our investigations.”
Anyone with any information should contact police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC.
To give information but remain anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.