Two men have been sentenced after a data-driven investigation by the Met Police uncovered their involvement in the illegal firearms trade.
Eric Aram, 35, from Hayes, was sentenced to 21 years and seven months at Isleworth Crown Court after being convicted of possessing firearms and supplying cannabis. His associate, Mohammed Guetfi, 33, from Hackney, received 14 years and four months after pleading guilty to the same charges.
Detective Inspector Sam Bennett, who led the investigation, said: “On average, firearms are linked to over a thousand offences on London’s streets each year. Many of the guns used are reactivated pistols, converted by criminal gangs and dealers.
“Investigators used extensive digital evidence to bring these two offenders to justice. This meant they were able to secure convictions against both men, despite the fact that no guns were found on the defendants themselves.
“These convictions send out a clear message that the illegal gun trade will not be tolerated in our city.”
The investigation began in April 2023 when Specialist Crime officers found a converted blank-firing handgun in a Bayswater flat during a drugs warrant. A forensic analysis linked Aram to the weapon, leading to a raid on his home in November 2023, where officers found a drill believed to have been used to modify firearms, a pistol manual, and £1,000 hidden in a vent.
Digital evidence further revealed incriminating messages on Aram’s phone, identifying him as a dealer who supplied firearms and cannabis. Guetfi was later identified through mobile phone downloads and arrested in January 2024.
During the trial, prosecutors described Guetfi as Aram’s “right-hand man,” a statement supported by the judge.
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