THIRTY FOUR men have been jailed following a major police sting on gang members selling guns and drugs in Enfield.
Undercover police set up the Boombox music shop in Fore Street in 2009 which was wired up with listening devices and hidden cameras.
A string of criminals, many of them gang members from north east London, sold guns, drugs and weapons to the police officers running the shop.
Following mass arrests in April last year, 37 people have been hauled before the courts. Most received hefty prison sentences after they were caught on camera at Boombox.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Harwood, who ran the operation – codenamed Peyzac – for the past three years, hailed the efforts of the undercover officers who faced dangerous gangsters trading in guns.
He said: “Operation Peyzac is seen as one of the most innovative and successful covert operations run by the Met and this is attributed to the bravery and dedication of the undercover officers which was recognized with judge's commendations.”
He added 30 of those convicted were proven gang members and all were mixed up in “serious criminality, violence and drug supply”.
The operation was launched in response to the murders in 2008 of Henry Bolombi, 17, Louis Boduka, 18, Iyke Nmezu, 16, Bakari Davis, 24, and Melvin Bryan, 18.
Today is the first time the success of this major operation to tackle gang crime in Enfield can be brought to light. Reporting restrictions have been in place to avoid prejudicing ongoing trials.
The final two to be sentenced, Nathan McGowan, 21, of Gillham Terrace, Tottenham, and Kimbrad Skerritt, 26, of Hainault, were jailed on Friday, September 9 for six years each.
In total, 21 guns and a haul of ammunition which was sold to police officers have been taken off the streets.
Chief Superintendent David Tucker, Enfield borough commander, said the impact of Operation Peyzac "will inevitably be felt for years to come”, and added: “In spite of recent events these convictions demonstrate our determination to stamp out organised criminality.
“We have said before that we will not tolerate violence and associated gang activity within the borough and will always ensure we use a variety of police tactics to track down criminals and bring them to justice.”
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