State Crime Command officers have seized 11 firearms and arrested four people as they continue to crackdown on Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs) activity in NSW under Operation Morpheus.
Operation Morpheus is a joint initiative which combines the resources of all Australian state and territory police agencies and key Commonwealth agencies to detect, deter, and disrupt illicit activity of OMCGs, their members, and associates.
In New South Wales, State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad and Raptor Squad led a five-day operation between Monday 5 August 2024 and Friday 9 August 2024.
During the operation, officers arrested four people resulting in 33 charges, as well as the seizure of 11 firearms including handguns, shotguns and revolvers, two military grade explosives, methamphetamine and cannabis.
The operation was supported by officers attached to Police Area Commands, Police Districts and specialist police around the state.
Detective Superintendent Jason Box, Commander of NSW Police's State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad, continues to urge cooperation between interstate law enforcement to tackle organised crime across Australia.
"Organised crime does not stop at the NSW border. It exists across this country and moves throughout our states. That is why large-scale operations like Operation Morpheus are so important.
"Criminals should not feel safe crossing between borders or conducting criminal enterprises outside of their home state. Operations like Morpheus show our interstate capabilities and we will continue to run these operations in order to target these criminals." Det Supt Box said.
Incidents of note include:
- About 8am on Monday 5 August 2024, Operation Morpheus officers conducted a Firearm Prohibition Order compliance search at a property in Wandandian. During the search, officers located and seized a baton and small amounts of prohibited drugs. A 40-year-old man was arrested at the property and was taken to Nowra Police Station. He was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit and use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order. The 40-year-old was granted conditional bail to appear before Nowra Local Court on Monday 23 September 2024.
- About 7.20am Monday 5 August 2024, Operation Morpheus officers conducted a Firearm Prohibition Order compliance search at a home in Harris Park. During the search officers located and seized methylamphetamine and stolen altered number plates. Police charged the 43-year-old male resident with goods in personal custody suspected being stolen. The man was issued a future court attendance to notice to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday 17 September 2024.
- About 10am Tuesday 6 August 2024, Operation Morpheus officers arrested a 36-year-old man in Bringelly for allegedly breaching his bail. He was taken to Narellan Police Station where he was charged with breach of bail. He was refused bail to appear before Moss Vale Local Court on the same day.
Investigations 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.
