TEENAGER Convicted Over Firearm Smuggling Offence

8 January, 2021 | Local

A 19-YEAR-old man has pleaded guilty to smuggling a firearm into Scotland.

Ryan Bonner was arrested in December 2019 in connection with firearms offences after an armed operation by police at a property in Nursery Gardens, Inverkip.

A multi-agency investigation carried out by officers from the Organised Crime Partnership (OCP) — a specialist team of Police Scotland and National Crime Agency (NCA) officers — led to a package containing a firearm being intercepted on its way to Scotland.

A search of another property found quantities of ecstasy and the occupant, a 20-year-old man, Johnathan Paxton, also from Inverkip, was arrested in connection with drugs offences.

Both admitted the offences today at the High Court in Glasgow. They are due to sentenced next month.

Detective Inspector Tom Gillan of the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) said: “The Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) is a collaboration of officers from the Police Service of Scotland and National Crime Agency. The OCP is committed to tackling serious and organised crime across Scotland and the United Kingdom.

“The illegal acquisition and possession of firearms will not be tolerated in Scotland and any such crime will be thoroughly investigated. The public can be reassured that the OCP will use all legitimate means to remove threat, risk and harm from the communities of Scotland posed by organised crime.

“I would like to thank our partner law enforcement agencies for all assistance provided during this investigation and would urge anyone with information surrounding illegal firearms to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

NCA operations manager John McGowan of the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) said: “This operation prevented a deadly firearm and a quantity of illegal drugs from reaching the streets of Scotland.

“The Organised Crime Partnership brings together specialist officers and capabilities from the NCA and Police Scotland, and enables us to protect the people of Scotland from threats that come from well beyond our shores.

“Working together we are determined to do all we can to stop the flow of illegal guns and drugs, and tackle the organised criminality that has a devastating impact on our communities.”

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