Lengthy jail term for Croydon man caught with firearms and drugs 

In 2023, Christopher Mckenzie was arrested after specialist crime detectives discovered he was harbouring firearms and drugs within his home address.

The team had been carrying out a proactive operation following intelligence that he was offending. This was acted on quickly, and within days, officers were at McKenzie’s front door, and making the arrest. As officers arrived at his door, McKenzie was seen to be carrying a bag, which was then found to contain the guns.

On 19 April 2023, when McKenzie was arrested, a search revealed two handguns, two separate magazines, two separate rounds of ammunition, ballistic body armour and Class A drugs. 

The firearms were examined and found to be a Zoraki 914 handgun and a Colt .25 self-loading pistol.

On Tuesday, 30 January, McKenzie was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to serve ten years’ imprisonment, with an extra five years on licence after admitting a range of offences. 

Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Sanderson, said: “Despite being out on licence at the time of his arrest last year - after being jailed in 2012 for selling firearms to undercover police officers - McKenzie had still not learnt his lesson.

“He had even incriminated himself by sending messages on his phone stating that he was ‘sleeping with a gun in his bedside table’.

“We are totally dedicated to keeping people safe from weapons and drugs, and we do our jobs so we can ensure that criminals such as McKenzie are stopped.

“It is very satisfying to know that he will not be able to cause harm to anyone, now he is once again behind bars.”

Mckenzie, 37 (05.08.86) of Pawsons Road, Croydon, pleaded guilty to possession of two firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life, possession of firearms when a prohibited person and possession with intent to supply 4.75 grams of heroin.