A violent gang leader who used a flat in Kilburn to store a Mach 10 machine gun, ammunition, drugs and cash has been jailed.
When Mohamed Yusef, 32, from Canary Wharf, east London, was caught he bullied Ahmed Osman, 25, to take the blame after officers uncovered his stash at the address in John Radcliffe House, Chippenham Gardens.
Harrow Crown Court heard the vacant flat was used by violent criminals as a safe house to store their weapons, drugs and cash.
Yusef was snared as part of an intelligence-led operation by officers from Operation Trident, the Met’s specialist team that investigates violent criminal gangs.
Leading up to his arrest officers stopped a car he was travelling in with his 22-year-old wife Hadeel Derrar on the A40 in Paddington.
During a search of the vehicle they found 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition from the boot and hidden in the spare wheel compartment.
After Yusef’s arrest enquiries led detectives to the flat where they found his stash.
Last week he was sentenced to a total of 13 years and two months in jail after being convicted of one count of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, one count of possession of ammunition without a certificate, one count of possession of with intent to supply Class A drugs (heroin), and one count of perverting the course of justice.
Osman, from Acton, west London, was sentenced for two years and two months for one count of perverting the course of justice.
Yusef’s wife was also convicted of perverting the course of justice.
She received a 14 months jail term, suspended for two years.
Said Bihe, 18, from North Kensington, who had helped Yusef store his stash in the flat was jailed for two years and six months for one count of possession of with intent to supply Class A drugs (heroin), and one count of possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct
DCI Rebecca Reeves, from Trident, said: “Mohamed Yusuf was a feared individual, a significant member of a gang known for violence across West London and the Home Counties. The power that he wielded over others even from prison meant he was able to coerce Ahmed Osman into giving a false confession to police, in a failed attempt to avoid himself serving prison time for possession of the Mach 10.
“Yusuf’s wife, a university student, also carried out his orders, concocting a false story and lying to police and to the court.
“I want any young person who finds him or herself in a similar situation to know that there are routes out of involvement in gangs and they should seek help. Men of violence like Yusuf exploit others and cast them aside; they use fear and violence to enforce perceived ‘debts’ owed by junior members of their gang.
“By undertaking to lie on Yusuf’s behalf, Osman now faces a prison sentence for perverting the course of justice.”
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