Police across the state have seized knives and firearms.
Operation Foil is a high visibility statewide operation targeting violent offenders, knife crime and the possession of weapons in public places.
The operation ran from Wednesday (1 April 2026) until yesterday (Thursday 2 April 2026) and saw officers across metropolitan and regional areas deployed to transport hubs and shopping precincts.
During the operation, 13 designated areas were declared that resulted in police conducting 2,789 knife scans and 100 weapons including knives and firearms being seized.
Police also made over 1,000 person searches culminating in 215 drug detections along with more than 250 move on directions issued.
It will be alleged that officers detected five separate individulas in possessions of knives at Penrith Railway Station alone.
Officers also executed 66 warrants.
More than 200 persons were arrested with over 400 charges being laid.
Incidents of note:
About 6.15pm on Wednesday (1 April 2026), police spoke to a 44-year-old man on George Street, Haymarket. Police commenced inquiries and the man was searched, with police allegedly locating and seizing a meat cleaver. The man was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station, where he was charged with custody of knife in public place. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 7 yesterday (Thursday 2 April 2026) where he was remanded in custody to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 16 April 2026.
About 6.30pm on Wednesday (1 April 2026), police conducted a business inspection at a licences premises on Waldron Road, Chester Hill. During the search, officers spoke to and searched a 39-year-old man. Police allegedly located and seized about 2g of heroin. He was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice for possess prohibited drug. He is due to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday 13 May 2026.
About 11.30am on Wednesday (1 April 2026), officers attached to Central North Police District attended a unit on Myall Street, Girilambone, to execute a Firearms Prohibition Order compliance search. Police searched the property and allegedly located and seized a gel blaster and three firearms. A 33-year-old man was arrested and taken to Nyngan Police Station, where he was charged with seven firearms-related offences. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 4 yesterday (Thursday 2 April 2026), where he was refused bail to appear before Nyngan Local Court on Monday 27 April 2026.
About 8.15am on Wednesday (1 April 2026), police were patrolling Ocean Street, Merewether, when they saw a man walking along the footpath allegedly carrying what appeared to be a bladed weapon. Upon sighting police, the man allegedly ran from scene. During a search of the area, police located a 41-year-old man near a unit block. During a search of the man, police allegedly located and seized a bladed instrument and 0.22g methamphetamine. He was issued a court attendance notice for custody of knife in public place - subsequent offence, and possess prohibited drug. He will appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 14 May 2026.
About 2.35pm on Wednesday (1 April 2026), police were conducting a knife scanning operation on King Street, Newcastle West, when they stopped a 32-year-old woman for the purposes of knife scanning. During the stop, officers allegedly located and seized a small box cutter. The woman was issued a court attendance notice for custody of knife in public place - subsequent offence. She is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 23 April 2026.
About 12.10am on Wednesday (1 April 2026), police were called to West Street, South Kempsey, following reports of a woman with a knife. Officers attended and observed a woman holding a large knife. The woman allegedly ran from the scene and a foot pursuit commenced. The 26-year-old woman was arrested a short time later and a machete was located and seized nearby. The woman was taken to Kempsey Police Station, where she was charged with carry knife visible in public place-cause fear for safety and breach of bail. She was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 1 on the same day (Wednesday 1 April 2026), where she was granted bail to appear before Kempsey Local Court yesterday (Thursday 2 April 2026).
About 4.40pm yesterday (Thursday 2 April 2026), police had cause to speak with a 29-year-old woman in Church Street, Parramatta. It will be alleged that officers located in the womans possession a metal expandable spring loaded baton, drivers licences belonging to other persons, gamma-hydroxybutyrate and other drug related items. It was also established that the woman was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for the offence of affray. She was charged at Parramatta Police Station and refused bail to appeal at Bail Division – Court 6 today (Friday 3 April 2026).
About 4.45pm yesterday (Thursday 2 April 2026), police were patrolling a hotel in Granville where a 23-year-old man was allegedly seen to act suspiciously on sighting police. Officers subsequently spoke with the man where he resisted officers. A search of the man allegedly located a large knife, methylamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia items. It was also revealed that the man was the subject of a Weapons Prohibition Order. He was arrested and taken Granville Police Station and charged over the matters where he was refused bail to appear at Bail Division – Court 6 today (Friday 3 April 2026).
