Shotgun couple jailed for 23 years after guns smuggling bust
Walsall woman and Blackpool boyfriend caught with assault rifle and pistol
A woman from Walsall and her boyfriend have been locked up for over 23 years after a National Crime Agency (NCA) probe uncovered their plot to smuggle deadly firearms into the UK. Chelsea Addison, 30, and Steven Dema, also 30, were busted after smuggling a Zastava assault rifle, a Zoraki 9mm pistol, and more than 100 rounds of ammo.
Dema was nabbed by Border Force officers at the Channel Tunnel terminal in Coquelles on March 18 while driving a hired Mercedes sports car. Alongside the guns, officers found £4,500 in cash.
Repeated smuggling trips exposed by phone data and DNA
Investigators found that Addison had sent Dema on at least three previous trips to Amsterdam to collect firearms. The pair used the encrypted app Wickr to hide their tracks.
At trial, Dema tried to blame Addison and claimed she orchestrated threats against him. He insisted he was just collecting a mysterious suitcase and didn’t look inside. But forensic evidence, including DNA from the suitcase and phone records, proved otherwise.
Dema eventually admitted he received £1,000 per trip from Addison to fund his missions. When he realised he was about to be stopped at Coquelles, he messaged his criminal contacts, trying to cover his tracks.
Living the lavish life funded by gun smuggling
The couple had enjoyed multiple city breaks in Europe and talked about luxurious holidays to Jamaica, the Maldives, the Cayman Islands, and Italy. But their lifestyle came crashing down in court.
Sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court handed Addison 11 years and 6 months, and Dema 11 years and 9 months behind bars. Judge James slammed them for greed and chasing the “cash rich lifestyle” tied to serious crime.
Law enforcement vow to keep UK streets safe
Martin Grace, NCA Branch Commander, said: “This was an attempt to import lethal guns and live ammunition capable of causing untold damage on our streets. Illegal firearms empower organised crime groups to terrorise communities and fuel deadly conflicts.”
Rob Hickinbottom, Head of the National Firearms Targeting Centre, added: “This investigation stopped dangerous weapons reaching the UK and led to these convictions. We remain committed to disrupting firearms trafficking and protecting the public.”
Immigration Minister Chris Philp praised Border Force’s 24/7 efforts to keep the UK safe: “We will keep working with partners like the NCA to bring offenders like Dema and Addison to justice and shut down organised crime.”
