Drug and Firearms Squad detectives have seized over 100 firearms and charged multiple people following an investigation into the supply of fraudulent documents used to obtain firearms licences.
In September 2023, detectives attached to State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad and officers attached to NSW Firearms Registry established Strike Force Excavator to investigate firearms licencing and compliance related issues, which Organised Crime Networks could exploit.
During the investigation, strike force detectives found evidence that businesses based in Liverpool and Bobs Creek, 28 km south of Port Macquarie, had allegedly supplied fraudulent documentation to over 1000 firearms licence applicants.
The majority of the applicants were based in south-west Sydney, with some of the applicants having links to organised crime, and the fraudulent documentation provided permission to shoot on a property in far western NSW.
Strike force detectives found further evidence that the far western NSW property owner had only given one applicant permission to shoot on the property and that the remaining 1000 applicants approvals were allegedly fraudulent.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad and specialist officers – executed search warrants at properties in Liverpool and Bobs Creek about 1pm on Tuesday 24 September 2024.
During a search of the Liverpool property, detectives located and seized over 150 firearms – including pistols, shotguns and rifles – thousands of rounds of ammunition, $380,000 in cash and multiple electronic devices.
Following the search, two people – a 50-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman – were arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station where they were released pending further inquiries.
During a search of the Bobs Creek property, detectives located and seized two replica firearms, multiple boxes of ammunition, electronic devices and two cannabis plants.
Following the search, strike force detectives arrested a 58-year-old woman in Port Macquarie before taking her to Port Macquarie Police Station.
She was charged with 14 counts of make false document to obtain financial advantage.
The woman was granted conditional bail to appear before Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday 16 October 2024.
A 39-year-old man from the Bobs Creek property was also charged with two counts of possess unauthorised firearm and possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority.
The man was issued a Court Attendance Notice (CAN) to appear before Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday 6 November 2024.
Following further inquiries, strike force detectives rearrested the 50-year-old man at Liverpool Police Station on Thursday 3 October 2024.
The 50-year-old was charged with 17 counts of licensed firearms dealer fail to keep labels and records as required and supply/give ammunition to person not authorised.
The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 16 October 2024.
Detectives will allege in court the group supplied fraudulent permission to shoot documents for a fee which allowed members of the public – some with possible criminal links – to obtain firearms licences.
Detectives Superintendent John Watson, Commander of Drug and Firearms Squad, said there are real concerns these licences have allowed firearms to end up in the hands of criminals.
"What we have uncovered during this investigation is a possible source for criminals across Sydney to fraudulently obtain firearms and cause chaos in our streets."
"Our detectives will be tracking down every single person who obtained one of these fraudulent firearms licences, and we expect that many will have links to organised crime and have been using this exploit to supply legal guns to our streets," Det Supt Watson said.
"Possessing firearms in this state is a privilege and it requires a significant amount of effort to obtain and keep a firearm. What we are especially concerned about is that there are a number of people who have not put in that effort and are placing the public in danger."
Investigations under Strike Force Excavator continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
