PLEASE NOTE: NSWPF-branded footage of the arrests and seizures will be available via Hightail later this morning.
Task Force Magnus detectives have charged nine people and seized firearms, prohibited weapons, drugs and $45,000 cash, as they continue to target and suppress violent and organised criminal activity.
Task Force Magnus was established in July this year, as a proactive policing strategy to target and disrupt gun-related and violent crime, and to investigate links between recent organised criminal activity in Sydney.
As part of ongoing suppression taskings, Task Force officers – with assistance from the Raptor Squad, Public Order and Riot Squad, and the North West Metropolitan Operational Support Group – executed three search warrants and 15 Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance check searches from 6am yesterday (Thursday 7 September 2023).
The warrants and FPO compliance checks occurred across the Sydney metropolitan area, including in Quakers Hill, Auburn, Greenacre, Villawood, Dundas Valley, Greystanes, South Penrith, Plumpton, Orchard Hills, and Voyager Point.
During the searches, police located and seized two firearms, about 700g of cocaine, one kilogram of cannabis, methylamphetamine, $45,000 cash, mobile phones, numerous fraudulent NSW registration plates, and luxury jewellery and watches believed to be stolen.
Whilst at the Greenacre home, officers also seized a laptop, believed to be used in the manufacture of the fraudulent registration plates.
All items were seized to undergo forensic examination.
It's estimated the potential street value of the prohibited drugs seized is approximately $750,000.
Nine people were arrested during yesterday's operation:
- A 23-year-old man was arrested at a Quakers Hill property, before being taken to Riverstone Police Station and charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, fail to comply digital evidence access order direction, and goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not m/v). He was refused bail at Blacktown Local Court to reappear at the same court today (Friday 8 September 2023).
- A 43-year-old woman was arrested at an Auburn home and taken to Auburn Police Station. She was charged with three counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle), and one count of breach of bail. She was refused bail at Burwood Local Court to reappear at the same court today.
- A 24-year-old man was arrested at a Greenacre home and taken to Auburn Police Station, where he was charged with possess prohibited drug and found on/entering/leaving drug premises. He was refused bail at Bankstown Local Court to reappear at the same court today.
- A 47-year-old man was arrested at a home in South Penrith and taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged with possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition, possess prohibited drug, and goods suspected stolen in/on premises (not motor vehicle). He was refused bail to appear in Penrith Local Court today.
- An 18-year-old man was arrested at a home in Villawood and taken to Bankstown Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle). He was refused bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court today.
- A 51-year-old man was arrested at an Auburn home and taken to Auburn Police Station where he was charged with possess unauthorised firearm. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Thursday 19 October 2023.
- A 22-year-old man was arrested at a Glenwood home and taken to Riverstone Police Station, where he was charged with possess prohibited drug, goods suspected stolen in/on premises, and larceny. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court on Monday 18 September 2023.
- A 31-year-old man was arrested at a Voyager Point home and taken to Liverpool Police Station, where he was charged with five offences including possess prohibited drug, and goods suspected stolen in/on premises. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 20 September 2023.
- A 28-year-old woman was issued a future court attendance notice at the same Villawood address for the offence of possess prohibited drug, she is due to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday 18 October 2023.
Deputy Commissioner of Investigations and Counter Terrorism, David Hudson, said yesterday's operation is another example of Task Force Magnus targeting those people who continue to assist and facilitate these organised criminal networks.
"We will allege each of the nine people arrested yesterday were either members or associates of an outlaw motorcycle gang or organised criminal network.
"We are learning more every day about how these syndicates are operating, and how our disruption tactics are impacting their operations. With that information, Task Force Magnus operatives will continue to proactively take these people off the streets and put them before the courts.
"The arrests act as another reminder to those who wish to engage in this sort of criminal behaviour, that by doing so you will come under the microscope of Task Force Magnus," Deputy Commissioner Hudson said.
Task Force Magnus continues. Anyone with information which may assist investigators is urged to come forward.
Anyone with information that may assist Task Force Magnus 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.
