Taskforce Falcon detectives have charged eleven people, seized five semi-automatic firearms and an estimated $10,000 worth of drugs, following raids at an alleged safe house in Sydney's West.
In April 2026, detectives attached to State Crime Command's Taskforce Falcon, commenced Strike Force Albanstine to investigate three alleged public place shootings in the Lake Illawarra and Sydney's south west areas.
About 8am on Thursday 9 April 2026, officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District were called to Kalang Avenue in Kanahooka, following reports of a public place shooting.
Police were told shots were fired towards the home about 4.30am.
About 2.45am on Sunday 12 April 2026, police were called to a home on Columbine Avenue in Punchbowl, following reports of a public place shooting.
Officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command arrived and found that several shots had been fired into the front of a home by the occupants of an unknown vehicle before it left the scene.
About 3am the same day, police were called to a home on Noble Avenue in Greenacre, following reports of a second public place shooting.
Officers arrived and found that several shots had been fired into a second home by the occupants of an unknown vehicle before it also left the scene prior to police arrival.
No injuries have since been reported relating to the incidents.
Two men – aged 19 and 18 – and two boys – aged 17 and 16 – have since been charged and remain before the courts.
Following extensive inquiries, about 7am on Tuesday 7 July 2026 strike force detectives – with assistance of Raptor Squad – executed a search warrant on Punchbowl Road in Punchbowl.
During the search, police arrested eleven people and uncovered an alleged 'safe house' containing three military automatic self-loading rifles, one semi-automatic rifle, one semi-automatic pistol, 35g of cocaine, $10,000 in cash and 53 mobile phones.
Eight men aged between 18 and 22, two women aged 20 and 21, and a 16-year-old boy, were taken to Bankstown and Campsie Police Station. They were all charged with offences including possess more than three unregistered firearms, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and found on/entering/leaving drug premises.
They were all refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Local Court 7 yesterday (Wednesday 8 July 2026).
Strike Force Albanstine inquiries are ongoing.
Organised crime is investigated by a number of commands within the State Crime Command.
Taskforce Falcon was established in June 2025 in relation to the escalation in an ongoing conflict between organised crime groups. So far this year (2026) TF Falcon detectives have made 192 arrests and laid 539 charges.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
