Drug dealer who hid loaded gun in car jailed

Hamid Ramzan was jailed for 12 years at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday

A drug dealer who hid a loaded gun inside his car has been jailed.

Hamid Ramzan, 26, was arrested after crashing his Ford Fiesta along Carsic Road in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on 2 October 2023.

Cannabis, cash, weighing scales, two burner style phones and a converted pistol were found in the car's gearstick housing, police said.

Ramzan of Hillcot Drive, Aspley, pleaded guilty to weapon and drugs offences, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Police found a loaded converted pistol inside of Hamid Ramzan's gearstick housing

Police said Ramzan tried to conceal the converted pistol, however an officer noticed the fabric and plastic collar was not sitting properly in place.

Class A drugs were also found inside the housing.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, he was sentenced after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm, possessing ammunition without a certificate, possession of a knife, possessing heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply - as well as an additional knife possession charge.

Already under investigation

Police said this was the third time Ramzan had been caught with drugs and weapons in his car.

He was pulled over in 2021 in Valley Road, Nottingham, and found to have an imitation firearm in his boot and a knife in his pocket.

Two years later, Ramzan was found with a large knife secreted under the driver seat of his car when he was pulled over in Station Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, officers added.

After his sentencing, Det Sgt Rachel Mayfield said Ramzan was already under police investigation when he was arrested in 2023.

"He'd had two previous chances to abandon his criminality but carried on dealing drugs and carrying weapons, even when he was on police bail for previous offences," she added.

"If you choose to carry lethal firearms on the streets of Nottinghamshire you will end up in prison, no matter how well you think you've hidden them."