Black Country gun suspect 'a go-between for Albanian gang'

Khalad Uddin told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "I arranged for payments to be collected. I was doing the communication between the two groups. Generally speaking I like to keep it at arms length.

"I would have cash delivered to me from members of the Midland group. The cash was paid to me by a driver from the person who owed money to the Albanians."

This explained why 'hundreds of thousands of pounds' were found when police raided his home in Scholars Mews, Oxford and other addresses linked to him, the 35-year-old agreed.

He admitted that a hydraulic press was discovered in the police swoop. Uddin declared: "It was found at a property that I had access to. Sometimes a hydraulic press can be used for compressing cocaine but I have nothing to do with the supply of cocaine."

Mr Martyn Bowyer, prosecuting, claimed the defendant was one of two men 'pulling the strings' when two 9mm handguns and live ammunition were transferred to a criminal in a Kingswinford supermarket car park on August 3 last year.

The weapons were found in a shoe box in the car of Sadaquat Ali as he arrived home in Madeley Road, Dudley four minutes after leaving the Spa store in Lawnswood Road where officers had allegedly seen him take a package from another parked car to his own vehicle before driving off. The jury has been told that Ali has pleaded guilty to acquiring or purchasing the guns and ammunition.

Jermal Simpson was alone in the other vehicle when it was stopped by armed police within ten minutes of the supposed handover. Around £2,000 cash was found under a seat, the court heard.

Checks revealed 24-year-old Simpson had been in regular contact with Sunny Dhatt, 26, while Ali had been making and receiving calls to and from Uddin, it was said.

The prosecutor said: "Simpson was the delivery boy and Ali had been the collector with the strings being pulled from a safe distance by their puppet masters, Uddin and Dhatt, who directed the transfer.”

Police saw Dhatt and Uddin with each other at a pub in Dudley Road, Kingswinford on two separate occasions in July, it was said.

Uddin suggested the shoe box should have had cash in it, and said: "I had not ordered or purchased two 9mm pistols from anyone."

Mr Anthony Bell, defending Dhatt, asked: "Can you think of any reason why someone put guns in a box destined for you?" Uddin replied: "No I can't."

A bullet proof flak jacket was found when he was arrested at his home in Scholars Mews, Oxford on October 19. Dhatt was detained in Enfield eight days later.

Simpson, of Parker Street, Bloxwich, Dhatt of no fixed address, and Uddin deny conspiring to sell or supply prohibited firearms and ammunition between April 1 and August 4 last year.

Simpson pleads not guilty to selling or transferring two 9mm handguns and ammunition on August 3. The trial continues.