THE capture of two underworld 'players' who supplied weapons to criminals has saved dozens of lives, police believe.

Fation Peqici, 27, of Wash Lane, Bury, was jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to possession of firearms with intent to endanger life, possession of a prohibited weapon without a licence and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

Christopher Payne, 41, also of Wash Lane, has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years. He was found guilty of the same offences at Liverpool Crown Court.

In June, Peqici was seen leaving a house in Cheetham Hill with a blue sports bag before stepping into his Renault Laguna.

In the Heaton Park area, he picked up Payne and the pair drove towards Hindley, near Wigan.

It was then the police swooped. In the bag they found five Russian Baikal self-loading pistols, five silencers and 80 rounds of ammunition.

Searches at Wash Lane and another address in Cheetham Hill uncovered four Russian Baikal self-loading pistols, four silencers, 100 rounds of ammunition, a canister of CS gas, and a bag of bullets.

Cocaine worth £280, which is linked to another enquiry, was also found.

Det Sgt Nick Edge, from the Xcalibre Organised Crime Unit, said: "This was a significant recovery and both men appear to be big players in the supply and sale of firearms across Greater Manchester and beyond.

"What drove Peqici and Payne to sell these weapons is beyond understanding. Make no mistake, they are fully aware that the guns they were carrying could and no doubt would have been used to threaten, seriously injured and even kill people.

"Every bullet recovered is a potential life saved."

"I would like to take this opportunity to urge anyone who has any information about the supply and sale of guns to come forward and speak to police in confidence."

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Xcalibre Organised Crime Unit on 0161 856 0052.