London gang member jailed for smuggling deadly cache of guns into the UK

A London man who was part of a gang who smuggled a deadly cache of guns into the UK has been sentenced to 27 years behind bars.

The court heard how 30 year-old Michael Defraine who's from Bexleyheath in south east London made regular trips to the continent with the gang leader Harry Shilling who was jailed for 35 years.

Along with other members of the gang the pair masterminded an operation to import weapons including 22 assort rifles, nine sub-machine guns and ammunition on board a cruiser.

Their boat was loaded in Bologne in France and arrived with its "evil" cargo at Cuxton Marina in Kent.

What the smugglers didn't realise is that they had been under surveillance the entire time by officers from the National Crime Agency. Dramatic footage shows the boat being surrounded by armed officers.

After their conviction the National Crime Agency said: