Three men jailed after guns, drugs and fake cash bust

Three men have been jailed for a total of 41 years after a raid found guns and ammunition which led to a further drugs and fake cash bust.

Met cops and firearms officers found two handguns and 34 rounds of ammunition after a raid at an address in Norbury Avenue, Thornton Heath, in January last year.

Darren Lewis, 53, who was living at the Norbury Avenue address, had keys to the outbuilding where the guns were stashed, and was arrested.

He was yesterday jailed for 14 years at Croydon Crown Court after he was found guilty of possession of firearms with intent to endanger life and possession of ammunition.

Forensic evidence on the firearms and the newspaper wrappings inside the outbuilding identified two further suspects – Alex Findlay, 28, of Knights Hill, Croydon and Umut Alpergin, 24, of Flempton Road, Hackney.

This discovery led investigators to identify a Class A drugs conspiracy between Findlay and Lewis which dated back to between 2019 and 2021.

Following a three-week trial at the same court in May, all three were found guilty of possession of firearms with intent to endanger life and possession of ammunition.

Findlay was jailed for 18 years and Alpergin nine.

At an earlier hearing, Lewis and Findlay had pleaded guilty to Class A drugs offences, with Findlay also pleading guilty to possession of £5,690 in counterfeit cash.

Detective Constable Alex White, the investigating officer, said: “This operation led to the removal of firearms and ammunition from Croydon’s streets, and demonstrates the Met’s continued focus on violent crime across London.

“Each firearm seized had the capability of causing fatal injuries and causing devastation to families.

“Officers from the Specialist Crime Command, working in partnership with officers from the local area, enables us to identify and pursue those individuals who seek to harm the community.”

Pictured top: Alex Findlay, Darren Lewis and Umut Alpergin (Picture: The Met)