Organised Crime Network Busted in Major Firearms and Heroin Sting
Four men have been handed hefty jail terms after a police crackdown on a firearms and heroin trafficking gang. Rocky Thompson, 35, homeless leader of the crime ring, got 15 years for conspiracy to sell and transfer firearms, possess ammunition, and supply Class A drugs (heroin).
His right-hand man, Shakeel Khaliq, 34, from Aylesbury, was sentenced to 14 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to sell and transfer firearms at Southwark Crown Court.
Yetgin Eken, 47, also without a fixed address, received 13 years following his conviction at Woolwich Crown Court for conspiracy involving firearms and ammunition. Mohammed Raqib Tariq, 24, of Aylesbury, was handed a 21-month suspended sentence for participating in the activities of the organised criminal group.
From Turkey to Thetford: How the Guns and Heroin Got In
The crime saga began on 4 September 2019 when Thompson flew to Istanbul, Turkey. Over the following weeks, he stayed in close contact with Khaliq and a Turkish associate, plotting the purchase of firearms.
Shortly after, Yetgin Eken smuggled guns and ammo hidden in his lorry’s back from Turkey to Dover, then on to Thetford, Norfolk, on 20 September.
Khaliq orchestrated a meet-up in Aylesbury with Tariq to pick up the first shipment. Tariq made a down payment in cash for the guns and a sizeable haul of heroin.
Police Move In After £9,000 Handover
On 14 October, Eken returned to the UK via Dover with more contraband. Shortly after, Tariq met with him in Thetford again. Eken loaded a black holdall into Tariq’s car boot, then took a red/orange bag containing £9,000.
That’s when armed police from the Met, Thames Valley, and Norfolk swooped in. Simultaneous raids arrested Thompson and Khaliq at a safe house in Aylesbury, Tariq near Newmarket, Suffolk, where police found six pistols, 126 bullets, and over 1kg of heroin worth around £100,000, and Eken in his lorry.
Detective Praises Police Team for Dismantling Dangerous Gang
“This complex and fast-moving investigation shows our commitment to cracking down on firearms traffickers,” said Detective Chief Inspector Driss Hayoukane, Senior Investigating Officer. “Thanks to outstanding efforts by police forces across jurisdictions, we seized six deadly guns, ammo, and heroin before they hit the streets. This operation prevented potentially fatal shootings in London and beyond.”
During questioning, Eken claimed ignorance about the firearms, insisting he was just delivering food. However, officers uncovered phone images proving his involvement.
The sentencing on 16 July deals a heavy blow to this organised crime network, sending a clear message: the police are relentless in keeping weapons off UK streets.
