Five members of an international criminal network responsible for smuggling dozens of guns into the UK have been jailed.

The group were caught following a 15-month investigation in which officers uncovered an international gun smuggling ring involving the transportation of firearms between Germany and the UK.

Detectives believe the defendants played a key part in a wider organised criminal network responsible for smuggling guns into the UK.

Ljudmil Ognjanov, 45 and Evgeni Tanev, 65, both of Hamburg, Germany were identified as ringleaders of the gang.

They oversaw the smuggling of the weapons, which were then passed on to Ross Elliot, 31, of Tweedy Road, Bromley, Sharriff Dacres and Olatomiwa Sholanke, 31, of Castleton Close, Croydon to be transported and distributed among criminal networks and London street gangs.

In total, officers seized 25 firearms including four sub-machine guns and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition.

Detective Chief Inspector Sam Cailes, from the Met’s Organised Crime Command Unit, said: “This was a protracted and complex operation which demonstrates how committed the Met is to reducing the number of firearms entering the UK and potentially ending up in the hands of violent criminals."

Elliot and Dacres were convicted of conspiracy to sell or transfer firearms and ammunition. They denied the offences, but were found guilty following a nine-week trial.

Elliot was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment. Dacres received a 14-year sentence.

Sholanke, Ognjanov and Tanev were all charged with conspiracy to sell or transfer firearms and ammunition.

Sholanke denied the offence but was convicted on Thursday, April 5 following a nine-week trial.

Ognjanov pleaded guilty on Monday, January 22 and Tanev pleaded guilty on December 15, 2017.

Today (October 18) at Kingston Crown Court, Sholanke was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment; Ognjanov received a sentence of 21 years and seven months; and, Tanev was sentenced to 22 years and four months.