British Man charged for smuggling 80,000 Guns and 32 million rounds of Ammunition into Nigeria

A 42-year-old British arms dealer who is accused of smuggling 80,000 guns and 32 million rounds of ammunition worth £840,000 from China to Nigeria has dismissed the allegations as ‘ludicrous’. Gary Hyde, of Newton on Derwent, East Yorkshire, allegedly smuggled 40,000 AK47 assault rifles, 30,000 other rifles, 10,000 9mm pistols and the ammunition across the world in 2007.

The York-based businessman – a former director of UK companies York Guns and Jago Ltd – is said to have organised the trade and transportation of the weapons in contravention of UK arms laws. Hyde has pleaded not guilty to smuggling the 80,000 guns and 32 million rounds of ammunition.

A previous trial into the charges against Hyde was abandoned, the jury was told. Hyde denied two counts of becoming knowingly concerned in the movement of controlled goods between March 2006, and December 2007. He also denied one count of concealing criminal property between March 2006, and December 2008.