Two men are facing 16 additional charges following the alleged discovery of a clandestine lab and bomb-manufacturing site in the state's Central Tablelands region last week.
Police attached to Chifley Police District conducted an operation at a property in Rockley Street, Perthville, near Bathurst, as part of an ongoing investigation, which concluded on Tuesday 26 May 2026.
About 9am Wednesday 20 May 2026, police executed a search warrant at a home on Rockley Street, Perthville.
During the search, officers allegedly found a clandestine lab, chemicals and items consistent with the manufacture of explosives.
Police also allegedly located and seized a number of registered firearms from within the premises.
The address was declared a crime scene, with specialist officers from the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit (RBDU) in attendance.
Police arrested a 46-year-old man at the property, and took him to Bathurst Police Station where he was charged with not keep firearm safely-not pistol/prohibited firearm (two counts) and possess, supply or make explosive for unlawful purpose.
He was refused bail and appeared before Bathurst Local Court on Wednesday 27 May 2026.
About 4pm the same day, police arrested an 80-year-old man at the property in Perthville. He was taken to Bathurst Police Station where he was charged with not keep firearm safely-not pistol/prohibited firearm.
The older man was granted conditional bail to face Bathurst Local Court on Tuesday 2 June 2026.
Following inquiries, about 9.30am Friday 22 May 2026, police attended a home on Hollis Lane, Perthville, where they arrested a 49-year-old man. He was taken to Bathurst Police Station where he was charged with possess digital blueprint for manufacture of firearms.
He was refused bail and faced Bail Division Court 4 on Saturday 23 May 2026.
Following further inquiries, on Tuesday 26 May 2026, a 46-year-old man was charged with 13 additional offences,
- Possess, supply or make explosive for unlawful purpose (five counts)
- Handle explosive/precursor without authorising licence
- Negligently handle explosives to endanger person's life
- Handle unauthorised explosive
- Use/modify/etc explosive to produce unintended effect
- Store explosives without licence authorising storage
- Fail to ensure removed explosives kept under supervision
- Fail to carry out activity in accordance with code
- Import/supply etc explosive not packaged/marked as per code.
He was formally refused bail at his Bathurst Local Court appearance on Wednesday 27 May 2026, and is due to face the same court on Wednesday 10 June 2026.
On Tuesday 26 May 2026, a 49-year-old man was further charged with intentionally import prohibited tier 2 goods without approval (two counts), and manufacture firearm without licence/permit.
He appeared before Bathurst Local Court on Thursday 28 May 2026, where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Tuesday 2 June 2026.
