John Wyn Williams from Exchange Chambers has prosecuted two men for possessing a prohibited firearm and ammunition with intent.
Aqeel Ilyas, 22, and Salman Gull, 24, were being followed by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers and abandoned the weapon on 28 July last year.
Gull then fled to Pakistan for three months but was arrested on his return to Manchester on a flight from Lahore.
Both pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court and were jailed for six years.
Andrew Etherington, NCA Operations Manager, said: “This was an extremely serious offence whereby a firearm was thrown from a car as it drove down a busy road.
“We know that firearms are strongly linked to criminal gangs who use them to enforce control and ultimately fuel serious violence.
“Every gun we take off the street will protect the public.”