Two men jailed for over 25 years after firearms and ammunition found in Birmingham
Two men who made firearms and ammunition at a house in Birmingham to sell to criminals have been jailed for over 25 years.
Rahim Kizito and Godfree Mbugoniwia would take blank-firing weapons and adapt them to fire live ammunition, which they would make at an address in Birmingham.
The two men were arrested in 2023 by officers from West Midlands Police's County Lines Taskforce.
After their arrest, officers searched a flat in Wharfdale Road, South Yardley, finding three viable firearms and compatible ammunition, as well as suspected Class A drugs.
A warrant was then carried out in Russell Street, Rubery, where officers found a manufacturing station where the weapons would be adapted to fire live ammunition.
A large amount of empty bullet casings, magazines for handguns and tools used to adapt firearms were found at the workbench.
Enquiries by the team established Kizito's role as the maker and armourer, adapting the firearms and ammunition, while Mbugoniwia's role was to help sell the guns on to criminals.
Messages were uncovered by officers showing Mbugoniwia talking to customers about the weapons and their price, as well as the quantity of ammunition to be supplied with them.
Each weapon would be sold for between £1,000 and £3,000 depending on the specifications of the customer.
Kizito also messaged various customers to reassure them of the reliability of his weapons, promising them they would not jam while being used.
Both men denied being involved, but were charged with firearms offences in late 2023.
On July 28 at Birmingham Crown Court, Kizito, 29, of Russell Street, Cofton Hackett was jailed for 13 years and seven months and Mbugoniwia, aged 27, of Brunswick Road, Birmingham was jailed for 12 years and nine months.
As part of the police's ongoing work to tackle serious and organised crime, a number of firearms have been taken off the streets in recent weeks.
Detective Sergeant Adam Buzzard, from the County Lines Taskforce said: “This was a serious case involving high-level criminality putting live firearms in the hands of criminals.
“Thanks to the efforts of the Major Crime Team, we were able to uncover the extensive operation and potentially save dozens of lives.
“We’re continuing our work to take these weapons, as well as the people who carry and supply them, off the streets for good.”
Under Operation Target, teams across the West Midlands work every day to examine new lines of enquiry and pursue suspects.
