Police have charged 24 people following a three-day operation across key areas of the Sydney to Newcastle Railway line.
Operation Halo was established by the Police Transport Command's North Central team to prevent and disrupt criminal activity across key areas of the public transport network.
The operation united resources from Metropolitan Sydney and the Northern Region, deploying strategies to target anti-social behaviour, criminal activity, and those wanted by police across the transport network.
Between Thursday 5 February 2026 and Saturday 7 February 2026, officers from the Police Transport Command North Central were assisted by local officers at key locations in Newcastle, Gosford, and Sydney.
As a result of the operation:
- 24 people were arrested and charged for a range of offences
- 961 people were scanned for knives, with two knives seized
- 17 drug detections were made
- Seven Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance checks were completed
Incidents of note include:
- About 7.05am on Thursday 5 February 2026, police attended a home on Saunders Street, Pyrmont, for an FPO compliance search. During the search, police allegedly located an amount of methamphetamine, and a crime scene was established. A crime scene warrant was executed a short time later, with police allegedly locating and seizing 22g of methamphetamine, electronics, drug paraphernalia, and an extendable baton. A 42-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man were arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station. The man was charged with possess prohibited drug, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order, supply prohibited drug, and possess prohibited drug. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 7 on Friday 6 February 2026, where he was formally refused bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Friday 20 February 2026. The woman was charged with possess/attempt to prescribed restricted substance, two counts of possess prohibited drug, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, and possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit. She was granted conditional bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 25 February 2026.
- About 10.40am on Thursday 5 February 2026, police attended a home on Faunce Street, Gosford, for an FPO compliance search. During the search, police allegedly located and seized a walking stick with a concealed knife, spear gun, metal baton, and a compound bow and arrows. A 33-year-old man was arrested and taken to Gosford Police Station. There he was charged with four counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, and use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 6 on Friday 6 February 2026, where he was formally refused bail to appear before Gosford Local Court on Wednesday 18 February 2026.
- About 3pm on Friday 6 February 2026, police were conducting knife scanning in Newcastle West when they spoke when they spoke with a man to check on his welfare. Following inquiries, police established that the man was wanted on an outstanding warrant for an alleged knife offence. A 35-year-old man was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station where the outstanding warrant was executed. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 yesterday (Sunday 8 February 2026).
- About 3.15pm on Friday 6 February 2026, police were conducting knife scanning outside a shopping centre in Newcastle West when they stopped a man for the purposes of knife scanning. As a result, police allegedly located and seized a foldable box cutter. A 23-year-old man was issued a court attendance notice for custody of knife in public place - first offence. He is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 26 March 2026.
Similar operations will continue to enhance community safety and maintain a secure environment for commuters.
