Couple Jailed for Smuggling Firearms into UK for Crime Gangs
A woman from Walsall and her boyfriend have been locked up for more than 23 years after being caught importing guns for organised crime groups.
Chelsea Addison, 30, and Steven Dema, 30, from Blackpool, were caught in a National Crime Agency (NCA) crackdown. Addison used Dema as a courier to smuggle firearms into the UK.
Police Arrest and Shocking Evidence
On 30 April, 123 officers swooped on Addison’s home and arrested her for her key role in the smuggling operation.
Addison claimed she was just a dancer and that Dema sometimes took her phone, trying to pin the blame on her. But DNA evidence from a suitcase and its contents, along with phone data, told a different story.
NCA and Government Crack Down on Gun Crime
The NCA highlighted how these gangs use guns to terrorise communities and control drug markets, especially class A drugs. Firearms are linked to serious crimes and cause death and injury.
“Stopping the supply of firearms is a priority for the NCA,” an agency spokesperson said. “Every gun seized disrupts the dangerous cycle of crime.”
Minister for Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp added:
“Smuggling firearms through our borders threatens UK safety and security. This conviction showcases the relentless efforts of Border Force staff who work around the clock at our ports and airports to stop deadly weapons from entering the country.”
“We will keep working closely with the NCA to bring criminals like Addison and Dema to justice and dismantle organised crime.”
