Kelly Bond, aged 53 and formerly of Lopham Road in Kenninghall, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment and Darren James, aged 48 and formerly of Norwich Street in Dereham, was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment. The two men were arrested in Dereham during the early hours of the 12 May 2020, following a search of their vehicle which contained an amount of cocaine along with a loaded handgun and ammunition. Searches were carried out at an address in Kenninghall and two packages of cocaine were seized. Further enquiries showed the two men had travelled around the country and coordinated the purchase, supply and distribution of significant quantities of class A and class B drugs. The men were charged with firearms offences and possession with intent to supply in May 2020 and were convicted at Norwich Crown Court on 28 February 2022 before being sentenced at Norwich Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 3 March). DS Eddie Hammond from the Norfolk and Suffolk Serious and Organised Crime Unit says: “We are pleased with the significant sentences handed to Mr Bond and Mr James, who used encrypted devices to arrange the wholesale purchase and distribution of significant quantities of controlled drugs. Both were stopped in a vehicle which contained a loaded firearm. Darren James and Kelly Bond have previous convictions for firearms offences and refused to answer any questions put to them whilst in police custody. Only they know what their intention was by having that firearm in their possession. The sentences handed down by the court reflect the seriousness of their offending. The hard work and tenacity of the investigation team in this case is indicative of our commitment to bringing those involved in organised crime to justice which in turn makes Norfolk and Suffolk safer places to live.”