A FATHER and son gun trafficking duo who were members of a criminal gang have been jailed for selling a deadly firearm.

Steven Smith, of Prestwich, and his son Jake Smith, of Whitefield, were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court today - part of a first swathe of 19 criminals involved in Salford's organised crime underworld.

They were brought to justice alongside Steven Smith's father David Smith following a three year undercover operation.

A further 10 co-defendants were jailed for drugs and firearm offences and another six will be sentenced at the end of November.

Steven Smith, aged 44, of Deyne Avenue, was sent to prison for 12 years and eight months.

He was convicted of selling a Reck model 9mm pistol, selling a silencer and possessing a shotgun without a certificate, all on December 29 2014, and of conspiracy to supply MDMA between January 7 and March 14 2015.

Jake Smith, aged 18, of Whalley Road, was sentenced to a two-year jail term, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was similarly convicted of selling a Reck model 9mm pistol, selling a silencer, possessing a shotgun without a certificate, all on December 29 2014.

Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle, borough commander of GMP⿿s Salford borough, said: "The scale of this week's sentences demonstrates that people who operate in organised crime in Greater Manchester will be caught, brought before the courts, and made to serve significant jail terms.

"The operation has removed seven guns from the streets of Salford, and directly stopped countless further criminal acts occurring.

"To remove one gun from the streets is good news, to remove seven is immense.

"The sale of drugs and outbreaks of violence were a consistent feature in the lives of those who became embroiled in this underworld.

"The prison terms highlight how strongly we will deal with those involved in gun crime and drug supply, and should send a clear message to others who are considering a life in organised crime."

Greater Manchester's Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: "This is tremendous work by Greater Manchester Police, in particular the brave officer who put himself at risk to protect others by collecting the intelligence needed to bring these gangsters and gun-runners to justice.

"Like all police operations, this will have been a huge team effort, and I commend each and every officer involved in catching these dangerous criminals.

"But I also want to thank those Salfordians who helped provide the local knowledge so vital in helping the police get these thugs off the streets and into jail."

Seven guns were recovered by police along with quantities of class A, B and C drugs, drugs paraphernalia and the cutting agent benzocaine used for class A drug trafficking offences.

Officers uncovered a cannabis farm and recovered three stolen motorbikes.