Twelve men who were involved in converting blank-firing pistols and ammunition into deadly weapons have been jailed. Police said the investigation uncovered that one of the UK’s largest illegal gun factory operations was being run in Sheffield.
Officers found 108 blank-firing weapons in various stages of conversion following raids in the Darnall, Castlebeck, Richmond, and Beighton areas between March and July 2023. Detective Chief Inspector Iain Martin said such weapons made up “a large proportion of firearms discharges in South Yorkshire”.