From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] GUN DEALERS `DEMANDING DOUBLE FEE FOR SHOOTINGS' 070545 JAN 10 By Damien Pearse, Crime Correspondent, PA News Ruthless gun dealers are charging black killers L250 for the loan of a weapon and demanding double the fee if someone gets shot, police revealed today. The illegal and unlicensed dealers provide a service for gang members throughout the country and are linked to nearly all black-on-black killings. Detectives in some of the worst hit areas - notably London, the West Midlands, Nottinghamshire and Manchester - are set to concentrate their efforts this year in tracing those holding the weapons. Commander Michael Fuller, in charge of Operation Trident in London, said it was impossible to say how many dealers existed. But he said it was apparent that many of the shootings in London this year were carried out with the same weapons. "What we are seeking to do in the coming year a lot more is to identify the armourers," said Commander Fuller. "If we are able to take these people out, it will help starve the market. There are not that many weapons out there." He said gunmen were hiring weapons for L250-L300 but were forced to pay up to L500 if the weapon was used. In London alone this year, there were 13 black-on-black gun murders and 34 attempted murders. More than 30 guns including sub-machine guns and a variety of pistols have been seized while several people have been arrested by the Operation Trident team. The attacks are mostly linked to drugs and there is evidence that gangs are now moving out of London into the provinces, Commander Fuller said. Many of the killers are hitmen who travel from Jamaica, where there were 813 black on black murders this year and 13 police officers killed. Operation Trident was launched in the summer to help reduce gun crime in the black community. Kenneth Pantling Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________ T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
