Gunman jailed after firearm recovered at Birmingham petrol station

A gunman has been jailed for six years after we recovered a loaded revolver from the petrol station he worked at in Birmingham.

Firearms officers moved in on the Gulf Petrol Station on Saltley, and a number of weapons were recovered.

In a black Vauxhall Vectra parked next to the forecourt, officers found a sawn-off shotgun in a black rucksack hidden in the boot.

It was loaded with two live cartridges. A third live cartridge and five used ones were also found in the car.

On the forecourt, a revolver was found in a bag hidden between two water butts. It was loaded with four rounds of ammunition. More shotgun cartridges were found hidden on the forecourt, along with a stun gun in a fire extinguisher box.

Sultan Arif was linked by forensics to the revolver recovered in the raid, which happened on 15 January 2020.

He has a previous conviction for possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition.

Arif, aged 33, of Clent Hill Drive, Rowley Regis, admitted possession of the revolver and ammunition.

At Birmingham Crown Court yesterday (11 June) he was jailed for six years.

Arif is well known to police and is someone who we believe has links to gang criminality in the Alum Rock and Washwood Heath areas of Birmingham.

He’s someone who poses a significant risk to the community, but this investigation has led to the recovery of firearms and ammunition and put him behind bars for a considerable time.

We’re relentless in our fight against serious and organised crime.

Under Operation Target, our teams work 24/7 to disrupt and arrest those in gun crime, drugs, exploitation, and money laundering.

Find out more here 👉 Operation Target | West Midlands Police