Three men and women from Croydon have been convicted of firearms offences, following the seizure of weapons and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition.

Sian Alexandra Miller, 25, and Sierra Denton, 21, both from South Norwood, were found guilty of conspiracy to sell or transfer ammunition.

Manfred Kurz, 61, from Croydon, plead guilty to two counts of possession of firearms, ammunition and explosive substances.

They were convicted along with three other men from other areas in South London.

The court heard how the crimes began when Kurz, a German national, moved to the UK in around 2004, having previously served with the German Army.

A keen shooter and owner of a German firearms licence, he bought a huge stock of ammunition with him to the UK illegally.

The stash came to the notice of his nice Sian Miller, who realised there was money to be made through its sale. The pair began to distribute the ammunition to contacts, for financial gain.

On February 5 2018, officers from Trident executed a firearms warrant at Miller's home address and foudn 1,800 rounds of varying calibres, two pistols and cannisters of pepper spray.

Bullet-making equipment, including empty cartridges, primers and black powder, which could be used to make live cartridge rounds, were also recovered.

Miller was arrested and, as a result of their enquiries, officers carried out a second raid on the address of her uncle, Kurz, who was arrested the same day and had his house searched.

A large quantity of black explosive powder was found, bringing the total recovered from all addresses to 20kg. Also seized at Kurz’s address was a single live .357 calibre cartridge and bullet-making equipment.

As a result of detective work, police were able to establish a connection between Lorenzo Brooks and Lukas Duncan, a cousin of Sian Miller, who were both arrested for their part in the conspiracy to sell ammunition.

Trident detectives carried out another raid on April 23 2018, this time at the home address of Sierra Denton. Seized in this raid was another large quantity of ammunition.

In total more than 3,100 rounds of ammunition - in varying calibres - two incapacitant sprays and an ounce of heroin were found.

This arrest in turn led to the arrest of her boyfriend Mishak Wright-Martin.

The trial of Miller, Duncan and Wright-Martin concluded on 7 December 2018, but reporting restrictions were put in place while a separate trial for Lorenzo Brooks was completed at the same court, starting on Monday, 4 March. Kurz and Wright-Martin had already pleaded guilty.

Detective Constable Martin Reader, of the Trident and Area Crime Command, said: “The recovery of this haul of ammunition and black powder represents one of the Met’s largest-ever seizures of ammunition and explosive substances in recent times.

“A huge amount of ammunition has been recovered, which we believe was destined to be sold to criminals with gang connections. This amount of firepower in the hands of the criminal fraternity is a truly terrifying thought.

“Thankfully the rapid action of Trident officers has taken this weaponry off the streets before it could be used, and for that, every person who lives in, or visits, our capital should be thankful.

“I honestly believe the action of Met officers has saved lives and brought a number of people to justice, who put their own greed above the safety of their community.”