Three men have been charged over the alleged possession of prohibited unauthorised firearms located at a home in Sydney's west.
In June 2017, detectives from the NSW Police Force and the Australian Federal Police commenced Operation Loa to investigate targeted mail theft, mobile telephone porting, and identity takeovers enabling large-scale fraud across Sydney.
During the investigation, officers executed several search warrants across Sydney on Wednesday 29 November 2017.
During a search at a home on Arthur Street, Bankstown, investigators allegedly located a SKS self-loading rifle, a M1 Carbine self-loading rifle, four magazines and ammunition.
The seized firearms have been forensically examined and are undergoing ballistic examination.
A 29-year-old man was charged at the time with nine firearm offences and remains before the courts.
Following further inquiries by detectives from the State Crime Command's Financial Crimes Squad, a 28-year-old man was charged with 11 counts of possess prohibited firearm on Monday 29 July 2019.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court today (Tuesday 27 August 2019).
As a result of further inquiries, a third man – also aged 28 – was arrested at Parramatta Police Station on Monday 5 August 2019.
He was charged with 11 offences including, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm (x2), possess unregistered firearm – prohibited firearm (x2), possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit (x4), possess ammunition without holding licence/permit, and not keep firearm safely (x2).
The Greenacre man was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 28 August 2019).
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
