ARMED police officers who swooped on a silver BMW and a gold Vauxhall in Crayford found a gun and ammunition stashed in the boot.

The pre-planned intelligence-led operation saw two men arrested at 3.45pm on June 21 last year, near the recycling centre in Thames Road.

A witness told News Shopper at the time: “Armed police surrounded a BMW.

“They smashed the windows and shot the tyres on car.”

Now, 22-year-old student Kayhan Kiani and professional fighter Jason Barrett, 37, have been jailed for a total of 13 years for firearm and ammunition offences.

Officers watched on as a gold Vauxhall Frontera was seen to meet with a silver BMW 3 Series, which was driven by Kiani.

Kiani was seen to place a ‘heavy looking envelope’ into the boot of the BMW and as it drove away, it was pulled over by police.

Detectives looked inside the envelope – which contained two grey socks – and found a black self-loading pistol and two rounds of ammunition.

The weapon was later identified as a converted nine millimetre PAK calibre blank-firing pistol manufactured in Italy.

On searching the gold Vauxhall, they found documentation relating to Barrett, who was also seen on CCTV leaving a nearby building with the envelope.

Three men were arrested – Kiani and 23-year-old Daniel Agyeman - at the scene and were all charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition.

During a trial at Woolwich Crown Court, both Kiani and Barrett changed their not guilty pleas to guilty and admitted the offences.

Mr Agyeman, from Croydon, was found not guilty of both charges.

Kiani, of Townmead Road in Fulham and Barrett, of Joan Road in Dagenham, were both jailed for six and a half years for possessing the weapon and two years for possessing the ammunition.

The sentences will run concurrently.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Richard Smith of Trident Gang Crime Command said: "This conviction is the result of determination and commitment from officers and police staff working within Trident Gang Crime Command, supported by specialist colleagues from across the Metropolitan Police Service.

“It demonstrates our determination to bring to justice anyone who chooses to become involved in gun crime in our city.

He added: "Trident has recovered over 100 firearms from the streets of London in the last 12 months and the number of shootings within the capital continues to decline year on year.

“I hope the sentence imposed sends a very clear message to those criminals who seek to possess, supply or use firearms, and that it reassures the communities of London of our ability to successfully arrest and prosecute anyone involved in such activities."