The judicial system and South Yorkshire Police have been eager to address the problem in an effort to stamp it out by way of crackdown operations, convictions and by sending out messages that such offending will not be tolerated.
Here are the faces of 10 defendants who have been locked up after they were linked to drugs and weapons or drug dealing and weapons in recent months.
The Recorder of Sheffield - Judge Jeremy Richardson QC - has highlighted the danger of armed drug dealers after a teenager was stabbed to death, and Judge Michael Slater has stated that drugs and guns are the “scourge of South Yorkshire”.
Here are the faces of 10 defendants who have been locked up after they were linked to drugs and weapons or drug dealing and weapons in recent months.
6. Jabari Fanty
A Sheffield Crown Court trial heard how Jabari Fanty, pictured, and two other young men were found guilty by a jury of murdering 20-year-old Ramey Salem who was shot at a flat on Grimesthorpe Road South, Burngreave, Sheffield, on November 16, 2020.
Fanty, and one of the two young men, and another separate defendant, were also found guilty of the attempted murder of Ali al-Humakaini a month earlier after he was shot at Osgathorpe Park, Burngreave, Sheffield, on October 31, 2020.
Fanty, aged 20, of Broadhead Road, Stocksbridge, was also found guilty of: conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of A and having an article with a blade or point. Fanty was sentenced to custody for life with a minimum term of 35 years of detention. Photo: SYP
7. Aaron Yanbak
A Sheffield Crown Court trial heard how Aaron Yanbak, pictured, and Jabari Fanty, and another young man were found guilty by a jury of murdering 20-year-old Ramey Salem who was shot at a flat on Grimesthorpe Road South, Burngreave, Sheffield, on November 16, 2020. Yanbak, Fanty and a further defendant, were also found guilty of the attempted murder of Ali al-Humakaini a month earlier after he was shot at Osgathorpe Park, Burngreave, Sheffield, on October 31, 2020. Yanbak, aged 20, of Abbeydale Road, Sheffield, was also found guilty of: conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class A. Yanbak was sentenced with Fanty to custody for life with a minimum term of 35 years of detention each. Photo: SYP
8. Ricardo Nkanyezi
A Sheffield Crown Court trial heard how Ricardo Nkanyezi, pictured, Jabari Fanty, and Aaron Yanbak were found guilty by a jury of murdering 20-year-old Ramey Salem at a flat on Grimesthorpe Road South, Burngreave, Sheffield, on November 16, 2020. Nkanyezi, aged 20, of Morgan Avenue, at Parson Cross, Sheffield, was also found guilty of: conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class A and possessing a prohibited firearm. Nkanyezi was sentenced to custody for life with a minimum term of 32 years of detention. Photo: SYP