A man has been charged as part of an ongoing investigation, after firearms and stolen property was seized in the Monaro region this week.
Last month, officers attached to the Rural Crime Prevention Team established Strike Force Louarna to investigate the alleged theft of livestock trailers in the local area.
A 29-year-old man was arrested charged on Monday 26 July, after two trailers were recovered on the Monaro Highway, Michelago. He remains before the courts.
Following inquiries, Rural Crime Investigators – with assistance from the Financial Crime Squad's Motor Unit, and Monaro and South Coast Police Districts, executed a search warrant at a rural property on Mulloon Road, Mulloon, about 20km east of Bungendore, on Tuesday (10 August 2021).
During the search, investigators seized four prohibited firearms, a .22 calibre rifle – believed to be stolen, a 12-guage shotgun and six boxes of ammunition.
Police also seized 17 vehicles, a prime mover trailer, a boat, caravan, a bobcat, electric bicycle and two trailers, believed to have been stolen.
The value of the recovered property is estimated to be more than $500,000. The items seized will undergo further examination.
Officers rescued a pig that was visibly unwell, which was surrendered to the RSPCA.
A 50-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Queanbeyan Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of possess unregistered firearm, not keep firearm safely, possess ammunition without holding a licence/permit/authority, receive property – theft – serious indictable offence, and receive motor vehicle part – theft – serious indictable offence.
He appeared in Queanbeyan Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 11 August 2021), where he was granted conditional bail to reappear before the same court on Tuesday 5 October 2021.
Inquiries are continuing.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Louarna detectives 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.
