Four men have appeared in court charged with gun and drug offences following a major police operation in Huddersfield.

Jamie Simpson, 28, of Walton Croft in Dalton, Anthony Robinson, 33, of Greenway Close in Liverpool, Peter Madu, 43, of Cedar Terrace in Liverpool, and George Sweeney, 33, of Malwood Street in Liverpool, were before Kirklees Magistrates’ Court today.

All of the men are charged with possession of a prohibited weapon – a 9mm Makarov self-loading pistol for sale or transfer, possession of 16 bulleted cartridges and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

READ MORE:

They were arrested following pre-planned raids by armed police tackling gun crime in the town.

Kirklees magistrates heard that the men were arrested following an incident at the BP filling station on New Hey Road, Salendine Nook, on Tuesday night.

Prosecutor Vanessa Jones told magistrates that the defendants had been under surveillance by police.

WATCH the CCTV footage of the police at Salendine Nook petrol station below

Video Loading

It is alleged that two taxis from the Liverpool area and a white Audi being driven by Simpson met in the Almondbury area.

One of the taxis was then stopped by armed officers at the New Hey Road petrol station, Mrs Jones said.

The men will first appear at Leeds Crown Court on June 9.

They entered no pleas during their hearings and were all remanded in custody.

Their case will be tied with their co-defendants who have already made their first appearance at the Huddersfield court.

They are Lewis Tynan, 23, Megan Atkinson, 22, and Gary Evans, 34, all from Liverpool.