Lengthy jail sentence for Reading gun smuggler

11 Aug 2006 05:45 PM

A Reading gun smuggler was today jailed for seven and a half years at Oxford Crown Court following an HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) investigation.

Amjad Hussain pleaded guilty on the first day of trial at Reading Crown Court in May this year to five counts relating to the possession and attempted illegal importation of firearms and ammunition. This followed a Customs operation held in tandem with the US Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) which concluded in July 2005 with Hussain's arrest.

Chris Berry, HMRC Assistant Chief Investigation Officer said: "Tackling the smuggling of prohibited firearms which cause serious harm to our communities is a high priority for HMRC and we continue to work together with our national and international partners in law enforcement to help to make our communities a safer place to live in. Today's sentence sends out a clear signal to anyone contemplating trafficking illegal weapons that they face lengthy custodial sentences."

HMRC commenced an investigation in tandem with the ATF in America, which showed Hussain was attempting to import handguns and sub machine guns into the UK via the internet from sources in the US described as computer parts. Two premises in Reading were searched simultaneously in July 2005 and Hussain was arrested. HMRC officers found an automatic pistol and magazine containing live ammunition for that weapon and a Taser electric stun gun.

Hussain was interviewed and subsequently charged with three counts of possession of the items found during the search and a further two counts of attempting to import a Cheetah Nickel handgun and a Mac 10 sub machine gun from websites in America.

Examination of a computer removed from one of the addresses revealed over 2500 e- mails, the majority of which were attempts to import firearms from American websites.
This information lead to Hussain being charged with two further counts of attempting to import a Beretta pistol and a Ruger 45 handgun.

This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO is an independent prosecuting authority which reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution of all HMRC cases in England and Wales.

Notes for editors

1. Mr Amjad Hussain, DOB 25 May 1978, lives at 77 Grove Road, Emmer Green, Reading.

2. Mr Hussain pleaded guilty to the following five counts:

1. Being knowingly concerned in a fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of
goods contrary to section 170(2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

2. Being knowingly concerned in a fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of
goods contrary to section 170(2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

3. Possession of a firearms without the authority of the Secretary of State contrary to
section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.

4. Possession of a firearms without the authority of the Secretary of State contrary to
section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.

5. Possession of ammunition without holding a current firearm certificate contrary to
section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968.

3. Two further attempted importation charges remain on the court file as the five guilty
pleas entered appropriately reflect the criminality in this case.

4. A photograph of Mr Hussain is available from HMRC Press Office. Photographs of the
weapons seized are also available.

5. The Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was created by Royal Assent on
18 April 2005. An independent prosecuting authority, RCPO reports directly to the
Attorney General, and is responsible for prosecuting some of the largest drug and fraud
cases in the UK. For further information contact RCPO press office on 020 7865 5666.

Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Media Relations Team
Website www.hmrc.gov.uk