Firearms shipping case is first major success for new police taskforce

The sentencing of a man caught trying to buy a gun online from the US has been hailed as the first major success of a new joint police taskforce in Scotland.

David Mitchell’s attempt to purchase the firearm came just weeks after the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) was launched.

● What is the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland)?

The OCP(S) is a collaboration between Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which has been working on combating organised crime even before its inception on September 1. The planning and preparation for the initiative began 12 months in advance.

It is based at the £75 million Scottish Crime Campus in Gartcosh, North Lanarkshire.

● What does it do?

The main focus is to investigate serious and organised crime, including importation of Class A drugs, human trafficking, and the importation of firearms.

The OCP(S) has also provided operational support to drug supply, fraud and cyber crime investigations.

The sentencing of David Mitchell over firearms offences is the first case to come to light. ● What happened in this case?

On September 19, officers in Scotland were alerted to Mitchell’s activity by US colleagues who seized the package he ordered - a glock 9mm gun with magazine, silencer and 150 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

It was decided the OCP(S) would take lead on the investigation using resources of Police Scotland and the NCA.

UK and US forces agreed a “placebo” package would be delivered and officers in Scotland kept close watch on Mitchell before he was arrested and questioned over the transaction.

He eventually pleaded guilty after offering no information on his motives, in which he acted alone.