A crime gang that plotted to sell deadly automatic guns and kill a rival in a revenge shooting have been jailed for a total of 80 years.

They were caught when investigators cracked the codes of a secret encrypted phone system used by organised criminals across Europe.

One gang member was known as “Assassin’s Creed”, another had the nickname “Legend Killer”.

The firearms involved in the plot included AK-47 assault rifles and Skorpion and Uzi machine guns, “everything an assassin might want”, the judge at Manchester Crown Court was told.

In one episode, three guns and 300 rounds of ammunition were sold for £37,000, delivered by a gang member on a bike in the car park of a convenience store in Warrington, Cheshire.

In a decoded message on the villains’ Encrochat phone network, two gang members discussed the murder target and wrote: “Oh yes, he’s a dead man.”

Umair Zaheer, 34, from Eccles in Greater Manchester, was jailed for 25 years after admitting a plot to possess firearms with intent to endanger life, a similar possession charge and conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis.

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Six others were jailed for between six and 11 years after admitting various charges.

Neil Gardner, National Crime Agency operations manager, said: “The weapons we took off the street and out of the crime groups’ hands were some of the most lethal around with a truly devastating capability.

“In seizing these weapons which are capable of firing multiple rounds per second, we have saved lives and protected the public.

“The offenders thought they were safe using encrypted comms, but working with the Crown Prosecution Service and Greater Manchester Police, we built a solid case that resulted in the men admitting their involvement.

“We will continue to do everything we can with partners at home and abroad to prevent organised crime groups trafficking firearms.”

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