Gun and Ammunition Found in Raid on House in Perivale
Four men jailed after police seize weapons, cash and drugs
The guns found by police during the operation
An intelligence led operation by the Met’s Trident team has led to the jailing of four men they have described as a significant threat to the public.
On 26 August 2016 they were observing Arnas Laugalis meeting Matthew Noori in Clarendon Road in Ealing. Laugalis got into a car with Noori and the driver of the vehicle who was later identified as Ameer Al-Sekafi. A few minutes later Laugalis got out of the car carrying a black plastic bag. Later that afternoon, officers witnessed Laugalis pass the same black bag to Jonathan Gomez in Borehamwood which he place in the boot of his car. Both men left the location separately, at which point they were detained by police. On searching the plastic bag, officers discovered it contained a firearm, ammunition and a silencer. Both were arrested and Laugalis was also found to be in possession of Class A drugs, namely cocaine and MDMA.
On 28 October 2016 police executed a firearms warrant at an address in Perivale. Following the search of the property, a large package was found in the loft containing a handgun, ammunition and a silencer. Whilst officers were conducting the search, Noori arrived at the address and spoke to an officer outside the premises but refused to give his name. Noori's DNA was later found on the firearm that had been at the property, and mobile phone analysis discovered his connection to the occupants of the house being searched. He was arrested on 7 December 2016.
As the investigation continued, DNA belonging to Al-Sekafi was also found on the firearm discovered during the search of the property. He was arrested on 7 July 2017 and a search was conducted at his house. Cocaine and cannabis were seized at the address, along with £10,500 in cash.
After a trial at Harrow Crown Court the four men have been sentenced to a combined total of over 43 years' imprisonment.
Matthew Noori of Chippenham Road, W9, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life and was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years' imprisonment. Arnas Laugalis, age 28, of Barking, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession with intent to supply (PWITS) Class A drugs and was sentenced to a total of five years' imprisonment. Jonathan Gomez,aged 33 of Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment. Ameer Al-Sekafi, aged25 of Melliss Avenue, Kew pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life, PWITS cocaine and cannabis and possession of criminal property relating to the large sum of cash found at his address following his arrest and was sentenced to a total of 12 years and nine months' imprisonment.
Detective Inspector James Hale, of the Trident and Area Crime Command, said, "The arrests and convictions of these four men are the result of a thorough investigation into two incidents where firearms were seized. These men posed a significant threat to the public and thanks to the hard work of my team they will be off our streets for many years to come.
"Gun crime of any kind will not be tolerated and the Trident and Area Crime command are working tirelessly to recover firearms, with 390 being recovered in 2017 alone."
January 18, 2018