Man jailed following Met investigation into south London shooting

A man has been sentenced for 24 years as part of Met investigation to tackling gang gun crime in south London. It comes as the force continues to bear down on gun crime and serious violence, protecting Londoners and making the capital safer.

The investigation went beyond the initial firearms incident, with detectives unravelling a drug-dealing operation, which had seen teenagers groomed into bringing drugs into London. The case shows the inextricable link between drug-dealing and violence.

Ayman Benhalima, 22 (06.10.2003), of Bloomhall Road, Norwood was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, 28 November.

On Thursday, 24 July at the same court he pleaded guilty to:

• possession with intent to supply cannabis; and
• possession of criminal property

On Wednesday, 13 August he was found guilty of attempted murder.

The shooting, which took place on Monday, 16 December 2024, was investigated by the Met’s Trident team, who are responsible for tackling and investigating shootings in the capital.

The investigation led to detectives uncovering a wider drug-dealing operation, which focussed their attention on a second man - Giovanni Bennett, 23 (12.09.2002), of Woodside Green, Croydon. Following the investigation, he also pleaded guilty to being concerned in the importation of cannabis and possession of criminal property on Thursday, 24 July.

Met Detective Inspector Ray Sekalongo, who led the investigation, said:

“Firearm offences have a devastating impact on victims, families, and our communities.

“Our priority is not only to bring offenders to justice but also to safeguard young and vulnerable people who are at risk of being exploited through gang crime and drugs.

“Alongside our partners, officers are working around the clock to prevent further harm and provide support for those who need it.”

The investigation

On Monday, 16 December 2024, at 21:53hrs, police responded to reports of gunshots on Dunbar Street, SE27.

Benhalima had discharged a firearm at an individual driving an Audi, believed to be a member of a rival gang. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

After firing the weapon, Benhalima fled the scene alongside Bennett.

Officers attended the location and forensically examined the crime scene, immediately seeking to piece together vital clues and build a case.

Intuitively, detectives from the Trident team used a music video, which had been filmed on the night, to prove the pair’s guilt. Both were seen to be in the same clothing as the assailants who had been pictured at the scene.

Cell data and CCTV analysis also backed up this hypothesis following an examination of all evidence.

After their investigation placed both Benhalima and Bennett at the scene of the shooting, officers searched their addresses.

Numerous packages of drugs and cash were found when officers searched their homes, as well as images of their drug dealing on their devices.

This led detectives to discover that the duo were involved in encouraging young girls and women to import drugs into London from Thailand for a large cash fee.

Bennett would advertise the drug-dealing opportunity on social media platform Snapchat.

Our work

The Met’s Trident teams investigate all non-fatal shootings or discharges involving a lethal barrelled weapon.

There has been a 32.6 per cent increase in the number of serious and organised crime gang disruptions over the last year.

The Met’s work to tackle gun crime expands further than Trident, with our Proactive Firearms Team using covert and overt tactics to disrupt gang tensions and take weapons off the streets before they can be used.

Firearms discharges across London are down by over 88 per cent since 2018/19. This is a significant step to keep Londoners safe - showcasing the Met’s work to disrupt offenders before guns are able to be fired.

Met teams also safeguarded 260 vulnerable and young people to prevent them from becoming involved in future organised crime, with officers making crucial interventions to keep them safe within the last year.

Giovanni Bennett is due to be sentenced for his role in the drug-dealing operation next month.