Birmingham Man Jailed for Smuggling Gun Parts in Classic Car
A Birmingham man has been slapped with an eight-year prison sentence after trying to sneak 72 firearms parts hidden inside a vintage 1976 Datsun Sunny imported from Pakistan.
Firearms Parts Secretly Stashed in Vintage Motor
Yasir Khan, 40, admitted to firearms smuggling following a National Crime Agency (NCA) probe. He masterminded the import of 36 Glock 9mm pistol slides and 36 barrels.
The illegal gun parts were cunningly concealed in various spots inside the classic car, such as:
- Underneath the windscreen
- Behind the engine block
- Inside the fuel tank
Border Force officers sniffed out the deadly cargo during a search at London Gateway Port on 7 July 2024.
NCA Investigation Leads to Arrest in Jewellery Quarter
After the haul was seized, the NCA launched a full investigation. Khan was arrested on 12 July 2024 in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter by the agency’s Armed Operations Unit.
Khan claimed he was just a car dealer. But voice notes on his phone revealed links to a Pakistani supplier with access to firearm factories. Messages from summer 2023 showed the supplier inviting Khan to visit “the factory” where the parts were made.
Dusting Off a Past Crime – More Suspicions Arise
Authorities suspect Khan’s involvement in a similar firearms import attempt in November 2023. Evidence on his phone included videos of him test-firing guns and dealing with ammunition jams.
Investigators believe he bought deactivated firearms in 2023 that were later converted back into deadly weapons.
NCA Vows to Keep UK Streets Safer
“Working with our law enforcement partners at home and abroad, preventing illegal firearms from reaching the streets of the UK is a key priority for the NCA,” said NCA Senior Investigating Officer David Phillips.
“The NCA and Border Force have blocked this huge stash of gun parts from flooding the criminal marketplace and being used to make lethal weapons for organised crime groups.”
Cracking Down on Firearms Smuggling
This case spotlights the ongoing crackdown by UK law enforcement on illegal gun trade that feeds violent crime. The NCA and Border Force keep watch on global smuggling routes to bust criminal gangs before guns hit UK streets.
