Two Co Antrim men sentenced for attempting to import gun and ammunition from US
A convicted drug smuggler and his friend have been sentenced for attempting to import a pistol and 52 rounds of ammunition in the post from the United States.
National Crime Agency (NCA) officers arrested 40-year-old Kristopher Scott of Frosses Road in Ballymoney and 31-year-old Bryan Hanna of Café Lane in Armoy, in October 2020.
Border Force officers carrying out checks on incoming mail at Stansted Airport discovered the weapon, along with magazines and ammunition in a parcel containing computer parts which had been sent from Oregon.
The NCA said that Scott was using Hanna’s address to receive the item, with Hanna informing him when the parcel arrived.
During a search of Scott’s vehicle, NCA officers recovered a quantity of the drug etizolam.
Scott was charged with attempting to import a firearm, two charges relating to the attempted possession of a firearm and two counts of possessing class C drugs. Hanna was charged with attempted possession of a firearm and attempted possession of class C drugs.
A judge at Antrim Crown Court sentenced Scott to five-years and four-months in prison on 8 February, but reporting restrictions meant this could not be reported.
Hanna was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months on 15 December at the same court.
Working with Homeland Security Investigations in the US, the NCA were also able to identify the shipper of the weapon as 34-year-old Lyle Justin Schirm from Oregon.
Schirm has pleaded guilty to sending the semi-automatic Sig Sauer weapon from the United States and is awaiting sentence.
NCA Belfast Branch Commander David Cunningham said: “Kristopher Scott attempted to import a deadly firearm into Northern Ireland and thought that by using the postal system he would escape the attention of law enforcement. Bryan Hanna was complicit when he said his address could be used, and making sure Scott was alerted to its arrival.
“Through our joint working with partners in both the UK and US we were able to stop him from doing so, and ensure that both ends of this criminal conspiracy face justice.
“The NCA remains determined to do all we can to stop those who want to bring violence into our communities.”
Taylor Wilson, Border Force Assistant Director at Stansted Airport, said: “This was a concerted attempt to smuggle firearms into our country, demonstrating the lengths criminals will go to put profit before people’s lives. If this weapon entered our community it could have caused serious injury or death.
“Together with NCA and international partners, we remain dedicated to ensuring the border is secure and we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of our communities is paramount.
“We will continue to break any attempt to import deadly weapons into the UK and dismantle deadly supply chains.”
It is the second time Scott has been convicted following an investigation by the NCA. In September 2015 he was given a five-year sentence after pleading guilty to importing class B drugs.
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