THREE men arrested as part of a police investigation into illegal arms dealing have been jailed for a total of 17 years.

The three, who were among six men initially arrested in Operation Opinjay, by Northumbria Police, were sentenced in separate hearings at Durham Crown Court, in the past fortnight.

The cases followed the discovery of a large haul of ammunition during a police search of an address in Shotley Bridge, near Consett, County Durham, in July 2007. A pump action rifle and a handgun, both fitted with silencers, were also recovered by police.

Keith Edwin Suddick, 46, and 44-yearold Michael Angelo Parsons were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to supply firearms and ammunition in Shotley Bridge.

Suddick, of Shotley Lodge, Shotley Bridge, was jailed for eight years. Parsons, of North Lodge, Winlaton, Gateshead, was jailed for six years by Judge Richard Lowden, at Durham Crown Court, on January 9.

Martin Jones, 57, of East View, Meadowfield, near Durham, who was arrested on August 17, 2007, over his alleged involvement in the conspiracy, was jailed for three years by Judge Lowden at the court on Wednesday.

Suddick was initially arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after a car crash on the outskirts of Gateshead, in April 2007.

Officers discovered boxes of .22 Imperial long rifle ammunition at the crash scene and Suddick was re-arrested on suspicion of possession of prohibited ammunition. A search of his home led to the recovery of about 1,200 rounds of various types of .22 ammunition.

During the police inquiry, detectives discovered Parsons and Suddick were working together and they were arrested on July 12.

All three defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess, and possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition prior to sentencing this month.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Walker, of Northumbria Police, said: “These sentences send a clear message to people who choose to traffic firearms or weapons within our area that we will use all our resources to investigate and disrupt them.

“This operation was conducted between crime operations detectives and firearms teams and has prevented these weapons from being used by criminals.”

Three other men, aged 22, 33 and 38, and all from the Sunderland area, were initially arrested as part of the operation, but proceedings against them were discharged at separate hearings at Newcastle Crown Court, last year.