Two men from East Ham have been sentenced in connection with firearms and drugs offences.

Zahid Ali, 22, of Halley Road, received a total of 9 years while Babbar Jaleel, 24, of Thorpe Road, was jailed for 3 years and 3 months.

At Inner London Crown Court Ali was found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life after a sub-machine gun, ammunition, silencers, vast quantities of cannabis and extensive equipment for the distribution of the drug along with �11,000 cash was recovered.

Jaleel had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.

The firearm, a 9mm Luger sub-machine gun, was recovered by police from an abandoned Honda Accord parked in Sidney Road, Forest Gate, of which Ali had the keys.

He also had the keys to a Toyota Avensis, parked on Overton Drive, Wanstead, where on August 21 a large quantity of cannabis had been recovered.

A search of Jaleel’s address recovered more cannabis worth in excess of �3,000, �11,000 cash and vast paraphernalia for the package and distribution of the drugs.

Jurors heard that on August 24 last Ali was seen carrying out a drugs deal with Babbar Jaleel in Thorpe Road.

Ali had come to police attention when on June 9 he was seen on Derby Road around the time that police executed a search warrant within residential premises. As a result police found a loaded Baikal handgun and ammunition as well as drugs. Forensic evidence later linked Ali to the items. The second silencer found on August 24 also fitted Baikal while the mix of ammunition was also the same as that was later recovered in street.

Jaleel, admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis at an earlier hearing.

Ali was convicted of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to supply cannabis.