An off-licence owner from Wembley has been jailed today for using his business premises to hide a firearm and drugs.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Police found this shotgun (Pic: Met Police)Police found this shotgun (Pic: Met Police) (Image: Archant)

Mohammud Chowdari, 30, of Forty Lane, stored a shotgun, cannabis and cocaine worth £150,000, ammunition and canisters of CS gas inside Grapvines in Acton.

His stash, which also included £180,000 in cash, was discovered by officers when they raided his shop last November following complaints from locals.

When detectives interviewed him they discovered the shop was being openly used as a base for criminality and his alcohol licence was subsequently revoked.

Last week he admitted drugs and firearms offences and today he was jailed for seven-and-half-years.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Police seized £180,000 in cash (Pic: Met Police)Police seized £180,000 in cash (Pic: Met Police) (Image: Archant)

Inspector Gareth Winnard, from Ealing Police, said: “Those who choose to involve themselves in criminal activity have no place on our borough and I want to reassure the resident of Ealing that we are committed to arresting such people and putting them before the courts.

“I hope Chowdari’s conviction shows that we will act upon intelligence provided and are committed to working with the local community to make Ealing a better place for its residents.”

Brent & Kilburn Times: Chowdari's Grapvines off licence (Pic: Met Police)Chowdari's Grapvines off licence (Pic: Met Police) (Image: Archant)