Large amounts of firearms recovered from Greater Manchester streets as police target gun crime

A shocking 86 firearms have been seized across Greater Manchester in the past year - as police clampdown on gun crime.

Between April 2024 and April 2025, officers successfully recovered a large number of firearms off the streets and jailed some of the city-regions most dangerous criminals. 

On Monday, June 2, Sufiaan Ali (20), of Hardy Street, Glodwick, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to possession of a readily convertible firearm and drug offences. 

Another offender, Ethan Glasgow-Lattibeaudiere – was charged with two counts of attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. 

Nine people, in total, were arrested as officers investigated the shooting in Shaw Road, Oldham, in January. 

Their relentless pursuit to remove illegal firearms from circulation has seen an 8.9 per cent increase in recoveries, from the previous year's total of 79. 

Pictured above: Retay pistol used by Sufiaan Ali

As a result of this work, there has been a 59 per cent decrease in discharges over the past year (29) in comparison to 2021 (71).  

Scores of firearms were seized as a result of proactive policing operations and planned raids by districts and the Serious Organised Crime Group.  

Weapons such as self-loading pistols, machine guns, shotguns and many more have been recovered. 

In February this year, officers played a pivotal role in the nationwide operation targeting Turkish manufactured top-venting blank firers, covering models; Retay, Ekol, Ceonic ISSC and Blow. 

The force also recovered 76 blank-firers – separate to the 86 recovered this year - along with several hundred rounds of ammunition as part of a coordinated surrender scheme, representing one of the highest recovery rates of any force in the country during this initiative. 

Since April 2021, police have seized 315 viable firearms - with at least 119 of them having been converted blank firers. 

Four of the 76 blank firers were handed in to them on the final two days of the amnesty, before owning these weapons became illegal as of March 1, 2025. 

Back in April, officers jailed an Organised Crime Gang for more than 40 years and recovered a firearm which has been linked to multiple disputes across Greater Manchester. 

Along with the firearm, police seized two magazines containing ammunition, a tray of ammunition in a box, all of which were in a bag in a bedroom of the property searched on Caythorpe Street in Moss Side. 

The firearm was sent for forensic testing, which confirmed that it had been used in four discharges across the city-region including a fatal shooting of a man in East Manchester in 2012. 

Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop, Head of Serious Organised Crime in GMP said: “These recovery figures represent more than just statistics – they show our unwavering commitment to making Greater Manchester safer. 

“Every firearm we take off the streets is a potential tragedy prevented. The increase in recoveries demonstrates the effectiveness of our intelligence-led approach and the dedication of our officers, who work tirelessly to identify these illegal weapons and seize them. 

“What is particularly pleasing is the 59 per cent reduction in discharges since 2021 - gun crime has devastating consequences for victims, families, and communities – thus highlighting the works we are doing has a significant effect on preventing serious injury and potential fatalities. 

“Our work is never done, and we remain resolute in our mission to reduce gun crime. We will continue to pursue those who bring firearms onto our streets, and they will be dealt with the full force of the law."