A man will face court today after police located weapons, prohibited drugs, and reptiles classified as protected at a home in Sydney's west.
About 3pm yesterday (Tuesday 29 January 2019), officers from Auburn Police Area Command were called to a home in Brixton Road, Berala, over an alleged domestic violence-related incident.
During a search of the home, police seized a replica pistol, a slingshot, substances believed to be cocaine and crystal methamphetamine, and 13 living and deceased native Australian protected reptiles, including red-bellied black snakes and tiger snakes.
Police will allege in court that the reptiles did not have adequate heat or water and were in enclosures that were too small.
A 26-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Auburn Police Station, where he was charged with 11 offences, including:
- two counts of destroy or damage property (DV),
- stalk/intimidate intend physical harm,
- possess unauthorised pistol,
- acquire pistol subject to firearms prohibition order,
- possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit,
- use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order,
- three counts of possess prohibited drug, and
- deal in or attempt to deal in protected animal.
He was refused bail and is due to appear at Burwood Local Court today (Wednesday 30 January 2019).
The reptiles were seized by authorised wildlife handlers.
