Two Men Jailed After Armed Police Seize Guns, Cash and Class A Drugs in South London Raid
Two crooks have been locked up after armed officers swooped on their south London stash, netting three firearms, £14,000 in cash, and a haul of class A drugs during a major crackdown.
Gunmen Caught Red-Handed in Intelligence-Led Sting
Jody Hall, 46, from Bromley, and Harry El Araby, 33, from Berkhamsted, were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on 23 July. Hall got a hefty 12 years, while El Araby was handed six years behind bars. Both had already pleaded guilty on 30 June.
- Hall admitted to supplying a firearm, possessing two firearms, and holding cocaine with intent to supply.
- El Araby pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, ammunition, and a silencer.
Surveillance Leads to High-Stakes Arrest
The drama unfolded on 4 May around Carters Hill Close, Mottingham, where Met’s Specialist Crime Command was tipped off by intelligence. Officers spotted Hall preparing to move something suspicious — donning gloves and retrieving a bulky, disguised package from a garage.
Shortly after, Hall met El Araby, who arrived by bike with a rucksack to take possession of the item before speeding off. Armed officers quickly intercepted El Araby on Mottingham Lane, finding a Glock handgun with silencer, 50 rounds of ammo, £10,000 cash, and an encrypted Encrochat phone – all stashed inside the distinctive bag.
Drugs and Guns Found at Hall’s Home and Garage
Police also nabbed Hall, who had another encrypted phone. Searching his address uncovered £4,000 in cash and 11 kilos of cocaine. Inside a garage, cops discovered a revolver hidden in an old washing machine and a Beretta handgun with six bullets.
Hall admitted knowing the drugs were on site but insisted they weren’t linked to his partner, present during the raid. Both men denied most questions except Hall confessed he was holding drugs to earn easy cash, as he was unemployed.
Operation Eternal: The War on Organised Crime
This bust is part of Operation Eternal, the Met’s biggest fight against serious organised crime. A treasure trove of encrypted messages cracked during international Operation Venetic helped investigators uncover encrypted Encrochat communications tied to serious London crime.
Detective Constable Gio Antoniazzi said:
“These guns, and every bullet, represent lives that could have been lost or shattered. I’m pleased we removed them from London’s streets. The gathered evidence meant Hall and El Araby had no choice but to plead guilty.”
He added:
“We hope this makes others think twice before dealing or carrying dangerous weapons. We’ll keep fighting to clear our city of lethal firearms, drugs, and dirty money.”
