Surveillance footage has been released showing a criminal throwing a sawn-off shotgun over a fence as police moved in to arrest him.
Kirkby man Paul While was under heavy police surveillance days after he was released from prison last year. A specialist police team believed he was about to collect a gun.
Now footage has emerged which captured the moment While ran from a house on East Prescot Road and threw a bag containing the shotgun over a fence into a garden. While was jailed as a direct result of the police operation that led to his arrest on September 2 last year.
READ MORE: Suspected head of organised crime group using smuggled migrants arrested
While later admitted possessing a shotgun when prohibited for life, possessing a shotgun without a certificate and possessing prohibited ammunition.
While, 32 of Glen Way, Tower Hill, Kirkby, was handed a four year prison sentence during a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court last November.
Today (Tuesday) the National Crime Agency ( NCA) released the footage of While's arrest on behalf of the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership (OCP) who led police operation.
The OCP, set up to target organised crime rooted in the Merseyside area, was launched in April 2021. It is a joint venture between the NCA and Merseyside Police.
Over the last 12 months the OCP has seized 164 kilos of heroin with a street value of £16.4m and 137 kilos of cocaine with a street value of £10,960,000, £957,700 of criminal cash, six firearms, 30 kilos of amphetamine and 80 kilos of cannabis.
The OCP is funded under Project Adder – Government money for targeted drugs enforcement combined with enhanced treatment and recovery services.
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Green, of Merseyside Police, said: “We are relentless in bringing to justice offenders involved in serious and organised crime.
“The force has had some excellent results in recent years with closing down county drug deal lines, arresting offenders and protecting the vulnerable.
“This has helped us in our partnership with the NCA and the OCP’s results show what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies combine to take on the most dangerous offenders.
“There is no hiding place for criminals in Merseyside.
“The OCP will continue to do everything it can to make our communities safer.”
Deputy Director Miles Bonfield, of the National Crime Agency, said: “We are really proud of our partnership with Merseyside Police and the OCP’s superb results so far.
“These have been significant successes and OCP officers have performed brilliantly in getting the unit off to the best possible start.
“We want to kick on and ensure this work continues to protect the people of Merseyside from the threats of firearms and drugs.”
