NCA Investigation Uncovers Hidden Firearms Parts in Classic Vehicle
A Birmingham man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after attempting to smuggle 72 firearms parts into the UK, concealed inside a vintage 1976 Datsun Sunny shipped from Pakistan.
Yasir Khan, 40, pleaded guilty to firearms smuggling following an National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation, which proved he was behind the operation to import 36 top slides and 36 barrels for 9mm Glock self-loading pistols.
Border Force Discovery at London Gateway Port
The illegal gun parts were expertly hidden within the classic car, including:
- Underneath the windscreen
- Behind the engine block
- Inside the fuel tank
The concealed weapons components were discovered on 7 July 2024 when Border Force officers conducted a search at London Gateway Port.
NCA Investigation and Khan’s Arrest
Following the seizure, NCA officers launched an investigation, leading to Khan’s arrest on 12 July 2024 in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter by the agency’s Armed Operations Unit.
Khan, who claimed to be a car dealer, was found to have voice notes on his phone linking him to a supplier in Pakistan with access to firearm manufacturing facilities. Investigators uncovered messages from summer 2023, in which the supplier invited Khan to visit “the factory” where the parts were produced.
Links to a Previous Gun Smuggling Attempt
Authorities also suspect Khan of being involved in a similar importation in November 2023.
- Mobile phone evidence included videos of Khan test-firing weapons, struggling with ammunition jamming.
- Investigators believe he purchased deactivated firearms in 2023, which were later converted back into fully functional lethal weapons.
NCA Statement: Preventing Firearms from Reaching Criminals
Speaking after Khan’s sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, NCA Senior Investigating Officer David Phillips said:
“Working with our law enforcement partners at home and abroad, preventing illegal firearms from reaching the streets of the UK is a key priority for the NCA.
“The NCA and Border Force have prevented this huge array of component parts from entering the criminal marketplace and being used to produce lethal firearms for organised crime groups.”
Crackdown on Firearms Smuggling
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by UK law enforcement to disrupt the illegal firearms trade, which fuels violent crime. The NCA and Border Force continue to monitor global smuggling routes, ensuring criminal networks are dismantled before weapons reach UK streets.
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