A lethal sub-machine gun along with ammunition and silencers was recovered by police from an abandoned car parked in a Forest Gate side street,

The shocking find on Newham’s streetsd made by officers, is revealed this week.

Keys to the Honda Accord were in the possession of local drug-dealer Zahid Ali, 22, Inner London Crown Court heard.

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

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

He was stopped moments later by police and found to be in possession of large quantities of cannabis ready and packaged for sale on the streets of London.

Ali also had the keys to the abandoned Honda Accord in Sidney Road where inside officers recovered a 9mm Luger sub-machine gun, loaded magazine, two silencers - one of which fitted the gun found - and ammunition.

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

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

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, 24, of Thorpe Road admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis at an earlier hearing.

The pair will be sentenced on March 16.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Paul Palmer, from Trident, said: “We are pleased at today’s convictions that have brought an end to the activities of Ali and Jaleel and resulted in a significant quantity of drugs and firearms taken off the streets.

“The cash and drugs recovered, along with the firearms, show Ali and Jaleel were a well-organised network with the ability to arm themselves to protect their assets.”