Birmingham pair Mohammed Rafiq Khan, 29, and Michael Harkin, 54, sourced the weapons and distributed them to criminal associates across the West Midlands.

Khan was also the head of a drug dealing network which distributed Class A drugs across the region – with eight of his accomplices also locked up for more than 60 years at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday.

A joint investigation by the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) found 68-year-old John Spencer Booth, a registered firearms dealer, converted lawfully held firearms for Harkin and Khan by shortening barrels and removing serial numbers from shotguns.

Fourteen sawn-off shotguns were recovered and more than 5kg of Class A drugs were distributed through the illegal operations.

Harkin and his partner Lucy Wilkie were both arrested last October after officers searched their home in Yardley and recovered three sawn-off shotguns.

A further search conducted at the address of acquaintances Vineeta Kainth and Mark Adkins resulted in the recovery of component parts, including sawn-off barrels and ammunition.

In January, armed officers stopped the vehicle Booth was driving and recovered 10 sawn-off shotguns and 250 cartridges in the boot.

A search of Booth’s business premises and home address in Derbyshire revealed a workshop and equipment used to shorten shotgun barrels and stocks. Numerous cut barrels were found, suggesting this had been an ongoing criminal enterprise.

Joel Martin was part of Khan’s drug dealing network and was arrested in possession of wraps of crack cocaine and heroin. Officers searched his home address and found approximately £15,000 worth of drugs.

Further enquiries led police to Mark Jones who was found with bags of heroin he was storing for Khan, while mother and daughter Anthea and Kareen Bagnall were caught with heroin and crack cocaine after being stopped in a car in Birmingham.

Jones, Kareen and Anthea Bagnall were drug runners responsible for the distribution of Class A substances from Birmingham to outer city locations, known as a County Lines network.

More than 100 calls per day were made using Khan’s line to drug users in Welshpool, Shrewsbury and Birmingham.

The investigation culminated when Khan was detained at Shrewsbury train station in February. He was found in possession of five mobile phones, over £1,500 in cash and tickets to Dubai.

Det Insp James Mahon, from the West Midlands Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: "This was a complex investigation but has led to significant prison sentences and illegally held guns and drugs being removed from the streets.

“These converted sawn off shotguns had the potential to be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands; while drugs can ruin lives and communities."

Sentences

Mohammed Rafiq Kahn was convicted of conspiracy to distribute firearms and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to 33 years;

Michael Harkin, of Kestrel Avenue, Yardley, pleaded guilty to distributing a firearm and conspiracy to distribute firearms along with possession of ammunition. He was also convicted of a further count of distributing firearms and jailed for 25 years;

Anthea Bagnall, 54, of Welshpool, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was given nine years imprisonment;

Kareen Bagnall, 22, of Welshpool, was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and locked up for nine years;

Joel Martin, 31, of Little Hall Road, Nechells, was convicted for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and received 10 years;

Mark Jones, 44, of Midland Croft, Kitts Green, was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and received a sentence of 10 years;

John Spencer Booth, of Meadowside, Ashbourne, admitted possession of firearms for sale offences and was jailed for 12 years;

Lucy Wilkie, 28, of Kestrel Avenue, Yardley, admitted possession of firearms and was sentenced to eight years;

Mark Adkins, 48, of Eastpits Road, Yardley, was found guilty of possession of ammunition and was given a jail term of three-and-a-half years;

Vineeta Kainth, 36, of Eastpits Road, Yardley, was convicted of possession of ammunition and was given a two year suspended sentence.