A weapons manufacturing facility used to transform blank-firing weapons into deadly firearms has been found in a raid.
National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators searched an industrial unit in Merton, south London, and located an array of instruments and equipment, together with components used within the manufacture of weapons and ammo and clean firers able to be transformed.
Along with a number of 3D printing machines suspected of getting used to make gun elements, greater than 100 rounds of stay ammunition, round a thousand rounds of clean firing ammunition able to be transformed, and three doubtlessly functioning transformed weapons had been additionally recovered, in accordance with the NCA.
The military bomb squad had been referred to as in at one level to make sure the protection of the situation after a amount of suspected explosive powder was discovered.
Officers from the company’s armed operations unit had earlier in a automobile recovered what was believed to be a functioning transformed weapon and magazines stuffed with 9mm ammunition.
The seized weapons at the moment are being assessed and analysed by forensic consultants.
After being questioned by the NCA, Girdlestone was charged with offences beneath the Firearms Act. He is anticipated to seem earlier than Croydon magistrates at present (Saturday twentieth May).
Debbie Palmer-Lawrence of the NCA mentioned: “This was a significant operation which uncovered a suspected firearms conversion factory being used to convert blank-firing weapons into lethal guns.
“We know that these kind of weapons are in demand by criminals.
“They are often used in acts of serious violence, as well as being used by crime groups to coerce and intimidate.
“This is why stopping them reaching the streets is a precedence for the NCA.”
Evan Girdlestone, 47, from Colliers Wood, has been charged with firearm offences and can seem earlier than magistrates in Croydon on Saturday.
Source: information.sky.com”