A converted firearm has been seized from the home of a suspected drug dealer in Gillingham, highlighting the dangers of illegal weapons and the impact of a recent national firearms amnesty.
Illegal Firearm Found in Pizza Box
Kent Police officers discovered a Retay 9mm weapon, capable of firing live ammunition, inside a pizza box while searching a residential property in Gillingham on Wednesday, 26 February 2025. The search followed the arrest of a 16-year-old boy earlier that day at the town’s railway station, where he was spotted acting suspiciously.
The teenager has since been charged with possession of a firearm and being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis. Due to his age, he cannot be named.
He appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 28 February and was remanded in custody. He is set to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, 28 March.
Firearms Amnesty Sees Dangerous Weapons Surrendered
The arrest coincided with the end of a month-long firearms amnesty, during which 15 top-venting blank-firing (TVBF) firearms were surrendered to Kent Police. These weapons, which are legal to buy, can be illegally modified into functioning firearms—posing a significant threat.
The amnesty also resulted in:
- 15 imitation firearms handed in
- 290 rounds of blank ammunition surrendered
- A First World War-era revolver discovered in a loft
Growing Threat of Converted Firearms
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Davies warned of the dangers these modified firearms present:
“Since 2021, more than 800 TVBF guns linked to criminal activity have been recovered by police forces across the UK, and they have been used in at least four homicides nationally over the past two years. Once converted, they are clearly very dangerous weapons.”
DCI Davies praised the public response to the amnesty, which allowed people who may have unknowingly owned illegal firearms to surrender them safely:
“We are pleased that a number of people took advantage of the national amnesty, ensuring these weapons do not end up in the wrong hands.”
Gun Crime in Kent Remains Low
Kent remains a safe place to live, work, and visit, with gun crime relatively rare. However, Kent Police remains committed to keeping illegal weapons off the streets, with operations like this playing a key role in maintaining public safety.
