Rahim Kizito and Godfree Mbugoniwia would take blank-firing weapons and adapt them to fire live ammunition, which they would make at an address in Birmingham.
Following their arrest in 2023, West Midlands Police officers searched a flat in Wharfdale Road, South Yardley, finding three viable firearms and compatible ammunition, as well as suspected Class A drugs.
A warrant was later carried out in Russell Street, Rubery, where officers found a manufacturing station where the weapons would be adapted to fire live ammunition.
A large amount of empty bullet casings, magazines for handguns and tools used to adapt firearms were found at the workbench.
The workbench where tools were found (Image: West Midlands Police) Enquiries established Kizito’s role as the maker and armourer, adapting the firearms and ammunition, while Mbugoniwia’s role was to help sell the guns on to criminals.
Messages were uncovered by officers showing Mbugoniwia talking to customers about the weapons and their price, as well as the quantity of ammunition to be supplied with them.
Each weapon would be sold for between £1,000 and £3,000 depending on the specifications of the customer.
Both men denied being involved, but were charged with firearms offences in late 2023.
On 28 July both men were jailed for over 25 years at Birmingham Crown Court.
Firearms recovered (Image: West Midlands Police) Rahim Kizito, aged 29, of Russell Street, Cofton Hackett, was jailed for 13 years and seven months.
Godfree Mbugoniwia, aged 27, of Brunswick Road, Birmingham, jailed for 12 years and nine months.
Detective Sergeant Adam Buzzard, from the County Lines Taskforce, said: “This was a serious case involving high-level criminality putting live firearms in the hands of criminals.
“Thanks to the efforts of the Major Crime Team, we were able to uncover the extensive operation and potentially save dozens of lives”.