A 21-year-old man who hid a shotgun and live ammunition in his Neasden home has been jailed for five years.

Brent & Kilburn Times: A shotgun found in Mohamed Hamza Riaz's Neasden home (Picture: Met Police)A shotgun found in Mohamed Hamza Riaz's Neasden home (Picture: Met Police) (Image: Archant)

Police raided Mohamed Hamza Riaz’s home in Tadworth Road at 5am on January 17 where they found a rucksack containing a Rizzini double-barrelled shotgun with a shortened ‘sawn-off’ barrel and five live shotgun cartridges.

The 21-year-old was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on February 22 after pleading guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of shotgun ammunition on February 15.

Officers from Brent’s Gangs Unit and the Met’s Specialist Firearms Command, carried out the pre-planned raid and arrested Riaz at the scene.

He admitted during an interview that the firearm was his.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Ammunition found in Mohamed Hamza Riaz's Neasden home (Picture: Met Police)Ammunition found in Mohamed Hamza Riaz's Neasden home (Picture: Met Police) (Image: Archant)

He appeared in custody at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on January 18.

Acting Det Serg Tom Palmer, of Brent’s Gangs Unit, said: “The custodial sentence handed down to Riaz should act as a significant deterrent to those involved in all firearm-related crime.

“This was an intelligence-led operation secured by the team, targeting criminals who are actively involved in the illegal supply of firearms and drugs.

“The recovery of this weapon and ammunition has no doubt prevented its use on the Capital’s streets. We will continue to work with our local partners to disrupt and detect such criminality.”