Man jailed after gun parts found in imported car

Yasir Khan, 40, has been sentenced to eight years in prison

A man has been jailed after gun parts were found stashed in a car shipped from Pakistan to the UK.

Yasir Khan, 40, of Lea Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham, was charged after 72 gun components were discovered inside the fuel tank and under the bonnet of a 1976 Datsun Sunny.

The vehicle was seized by Border Force officers on 7 July 2024 at London Gateway port, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

At Birmingham Crown Court he admitted to the attempted importation of firearms and at the same court on Friday was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The NCA said the haul was made up of 36 top slides and 36 barrels for 9mm Glock self-loading pistols.

A car was seized at London Gateway port in July 2024

Detectives launched an investigation following the find and Khan, who claimed he was a car dealer, was arrested by armed officers in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter on 12 July 2024.

Voice notes were found on his phone showing evidence of a contact with a supplier in Pakistan who had access to the manufacture of component parts for firearms.

The armourer had invited Khan to view "the factory" during summer 2023, according to the NCA.