Detectives have charged nine people as part of an investigation into a prohibited firearm supply syndicate.
In January 2019, detectives from the State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Colenso to investigate the supply of prohibited firearms across NSW.
As part of their inquiries, strike force investigators arrested a 34-year-old man outside a court in Hornsby and a 22-year-old woman at a home at Woy Woy on Thursday 7 November 2019.
The Koolewong man was taken to Hornsby Police Station where he was charged with 22 offences including; police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, use/supply stolen firearm or firearm part (x2), accessory aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, supply shortened firearm (x2), supply prohibited firearm to unauthorised person (x2), supply/give ammunition to person not authorised (x2), sell prohibited weapon to buyer not authorised, supply firearm to person unauthorised (x3), manufacture firearm without licence/permit, unauthorised supply of firearm part (x2), supply pistol to person unauthorised, unlawfully sell firearms 3 times or more within 12 months, unlawfully sell firearm parts 3 times or more within 1 year, and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
Police will allege in court that the man supplied firearms on eight occasions, and firearms parts on three occasions, to another man between March and October 2019, receiving more than $58,000 for the transactions.
He appeared at Hornsby Local Court the same day, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at Gosford Local Court on Friday 31 January 2020.
The woman was taken to Gosford Police Station where she was charged with supply prohibited firearm to unauthorised person, supply/give ammunition to person not authorised, supply shortened firearm, unauthorised supply of firearm part (x2), supply pistol to person unauthorised, and unlawfully sell firearms 3 times or more within 12 months.
She appeared at Gosford Local Court on Friday 8 November 2019. She is next due to appear on Friday 31 January 2020 at the same court.
Following further inquiries, a 20-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were arrested at homes at Dubbo on Wednesday 13 November 2019.
They were taken to Dubbo Police Station, where the man was charged with use/supply stolen firearm or firearm part (x2), and supply/give ammunition to person not authorised.
He appeared at Dubbo Local Court on Thursday 14 November 2019, where he was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at the same court on Wednesday 22 January 2020.
The woman was charged with supply firearm to person unauthorised, unauthorised supply of firearm part, and supply/give ammunition to person not authorised.
She was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday 22 January 2020.
Following further inquiries, a 23-year-old man was arrested at a home at Wallaga Lake on Monday 25 November 2019 and taken to Narooma Police Station.
He was charged with unlawfully sell firearms 3 times or more within 12 months, supply prohibited firearm to unauthorised person (x2), supply/give ammunition to person not authorised, supply firearm to person unauthorised, and sell prohibited weapon to buyer not authorised.
He appeared at Batemans Bay Local Court on Tuesday 26 November 2019, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at Gosford Local Court on Friday 31 January 2020.
Just before 6.30am on Tuesday 17 December 2019, strike force detectives, with assistance from Strike Force Raptor, executed a search warrant at a home in Windsor.
During the search, police seized two inert hand grenades, ammunition, magazines, and two knives.
A 39-year-old man was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station, where he was charged with supply pistol to person unauthorised to possess it.
The man appeared at Penrith Local Court the same day, where he was formally refused bail to re-appear at the same court on Tuesday 11 February 2020.
About 10.30am on Monday 30 December 2019, strike force investigators arrested a 44-year-old man at Gosford Police Station, where he was charged with supply prohibited firearm to person unauthorised to possess it.
The Penrith man was refused bail and appeared at Gosford Local Court on Tuesday 31 December 2019, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Thursday 23 January 2020.
Investigators arrested a ninth person – a 32-year-old man – about 2am last Saturday (11 January 2020), following a vehicle stop on Albion Street, Oberon.
The Millthorpe man was taken to Oberon Police Station, where he was charged with supply prohibited firearm to unauthorised person and sell prohibited weapon to buyer not authorised to possess.
He appeared at Bathurst Local Court the same day and was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Monday 16 March 2020.
Acting on information from investigators, officers from Police Transport Command arrested a 41-year-old Thornleigh man near Fairfield Train Station about 10.45am yesterday (Wednesday 15 January 2020).
He was taken to Fairfield Police Station and charged with supply firearm to person unauthorised to possess it and refused bail to appear at Fairfield Local Court today (Thursday 16 January 2020).
During the course of the investigation, police seized 17 firearms – including rifles, shotguns, shortened firearms and a pistol – firearm parts, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and prohibited weapons.
Nine of the firearms have been confirmed as stolen.
Investigations under Strike Force Colenso are ongoing.
Anyone with information in relation to the importation and supply of prohibited firearms is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
