Man Receives Eight-Year Sentence for Smuggling Firearm Parts from Pakistan
Yasir Khan, aged 40, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for attempting to smuggle 72 firearm parts from Pakistan into the UK. Concealed within a 1976 Datsun Sunny, the components were discovered during a Border Force inspection. Khan was arrested following an NCA investigation revealing his connections with a firearms supplier. This case highlights the importance of preventing illegal firearms in the UK.
A 40-year-old man, Yasir Khan, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for attempting to smuggle 72 firearm parts into the United Kingdom from Pakistan. This serious crime was uncovered during a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation, which revealed that Khan was responsible for concealing 36 top slides and 36 barrels for 9mm Glock pistols within a 1976 Datsun Sunny.
The firearm components were intricately hidden within the vehicle, placed beneath the windscreen, behind the engine, and inside the fuel tank. Their discovery occurred on July 7, 2024, by NCA and Border Force officers during a routine inspection at London Gateway Port. Following this, Khan, who professed to be a car dealer, was apprehended by NCA’s Armed Operations Unit on July 12 in Birmingham.
In court, Khan acknowledged his guilt regarding the firearms smuggling charges. Investigative efforts revealed voice notes on his phone that illustrated his communication with a supplier in Pakistan, who had the capability to manufacture firearm components. Notably, Khan had received an invitation from this supplier to visit the factory during the summer of 2023.
Furthermore, Khan is linked to a previous importation incident which took place in November 2023. Mobile evidence indicated his struggles with ammunition jams during the test firing of the assembled firearms. Additionally, Khan had acquired several deactivated firearms, suspected to have been converted back into functional lethal weapons.
David Phillips, Senior Investigating Officer at the NCA, emphasized the organization’s commitment to preventing illegal firearms from infiltrating the streets of the UK, stating that this operation successfully disrupted a potential influx of dangerous weaponry, thereby thwarting organized crime initiatives.
In summary, Yasir Khan’s case underscores the critical efforts of law enforcement in combating illegal arms trafficking. His conviction illustrates the dangers posed by the smuggling of firearm parts and the importation of deactivated weapons potentially being converted to lethal firearms. The coordinated efforts of the NCA and Border Force exemplify their ongoing commitment to maintaining public safety in the United Kingdom.
Original Source: www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk
