Met Police Dog Sniffs Out AK-47 in South London Sting
Two men have been jailed for eight years after a Met Police dog led officers to a hidden assault rifle in South London.
Gun Found After Holdall Chase on Mitcham Common
Umar Pervez, 23, from Croydon, and his accomplice Kyal Truong-Clarke, 25, from Beckenham, were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on August 8. Both were convicted of conspiracy to transfer and possess a prohibited firearm and ammunition, after being found guilty on May 10.
Truong-Clarke also got nailed for possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
The drama unfolded on August 6, 2021, when officers spotted Pervez carrying a suspicious holdall on Mitcham Common. When they stopped him, the bag had vanished. Cue the police dog, who tracked down the holdall nearby and uncovered an AK-47, a magazine, and ammunition inside.
Three-Year Police Operation Cracks Down on Firearms Crime
The search was backed by the Met Taskforce and the National Police Air Service. Pervez was arrested on the spot.
Further investigation revealed Truong-Clarke had been in contact with Pervez in the days before, even asking about the firearm’s resale value.
Detective Chief Inspector: ‘Weapon Meant to Kill’
“I have no doubt this weapon would have been used to kill or seriously injure someone on London’s streets, and I’m relieved we’ve stopped that risk,” said Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Masterson of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.
“The Met’s top priority is cutting violent crime, and we’ve seen a 28% drop in shootings compared to last year.
“This case shows the hard graft of our detectives. We’ll keep hitting organised crime networks and the supply of guns and ammo in London.”
