Two charged with firearm offences in the West Midlands

Police have charged two men with firearms offences after they recovered a pistol and ammunition when firearms officers stopped a car travelling on the motorway.

Ricardo Thomas, aged 32, from Smethwick and Akelle Charles, aged 32, from Wolverhampton, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court today (Monday). They were both charged with possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate and remanded in custody to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on November 27.

The charges were brought by the Regional Organised Crime Unit following the arrests last Friday evening (Oct 27) close to Warwick Services on the southbound M40.

Operation Target sees the force taking a defiant stand against a range of serious and organised crime offences – from drug dealing and burglary to cyber crime and fraud.

Officers will be using local intelligence, seizing goods, carrying out warrants and targeting offenders as part of Op Target’s ongoing crackdown against serious and organised crime.

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