A man wanted for an alleged armed robbery 19 years ago has been extradited from Queensland to NSW to face charges, as part of Operation Persistence.
The 38-year-old man was wanted on an outstanding warrant for his alleged involvement in an armed robbery at a service station on Punchbowl Road, Lakemba, in April 2003.
The warrant was issued after the man failed to appear in court in December 2003.
Police conducted several inquiries over the following years but were unable to locate the man, with information leading police to believe he may have fled interstate.
Late last month (February 2022), officers from Campsie Police Area Command received information that the man was living in Coomera in Queensland.
Following extensive inquiries by detectives, on Monday (14 March 2022), the man was arrested a home in Coomera by Queensland Police.
On Tuesday (15 March 2022), Campsie Police Area Command detectives travelled to Southport Magistrates Court, where extradition was granted.
The man was taken to Tweed Heads Police Station where the outstanding warrant was executed.
He was refused bail to appear before Tweed Heads Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 16 March 2022), where he was granted conditional bail to next appear at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday 30 March 2022.
Operation Persistence was launched in January this year (2022) by the State Intelligence Command, who are working with police across the state to locate individuals wanted on outstanding warrants.
Between Saturday 12 March 2022 and Friday 18 March 2022, officers attached to all nine South-West Metropolitan Region Police Area Commands – with assistance from specialist units – have been looking for individuals wanted on outstanding warrants as part of the operation.
