Three people have been arrested as part of an investigation into break-ins targeting firearms in the State’s Central West and Mid-West, NSW Police say.
Earlier this year, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad and Orana Mid Western and Central West Police Districts established Strike Force Yuba to investigate a number of break-ins on rural properties, where a total of 17 firearms were stolen.
During the course of the investigation, detectives identified possible attempts to on-supply stolen firearms.
On Friday 17 August 2018, a 12-gauge single-barrel pump-action shotgun and ammunition were seized during a vehicle stop by officers from Lake Macquarie Police District.
Inquiries revealed the firearm had been stolen from a break-in at Trangie in June. The 32-year-old male driver was arrested and charged. He remains before the court.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives, assisted by Orana Region Enforcement Squad and local police, conducted a two-day operation on Wednesday (21 November 2018) and yesterday (Thursday 22 November 2018).
Police executed a search warrant at a home at Forbes, and two FPO searches at Dubbo properties and another at a Peak Hill property.
During the searches, police seized an electronic control device, ammunition, a homemade axe, a knife, ‘ice’, cannabis, unknown white powder, and drug paraphernalia.
A 36-year-old man was arrested at the Forbes property and taken to Forbes Police Station.
He was charged with attempt supply firearm to unauthorised person and attempt supply of ammunition to unauthorised person.
He was refused bail and appeared at Forbes Local Court on Wednesday, where he was refused bail to reappear at the same court on Monday 3 December 2018.
A 48-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were arrested at one of the Dubbo properties, with the man taken to Dubbo Police Station.
He was charged with manufacture prohibited weapon without a permit, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, and possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail and appeared at Dubbo local Court yesterday, where he was granted strict conditional bail to re-appear at the same court next Wednesday (28 November 2018).
The woman was charged by way of a Future Court Attendance Notice for manufacture prohibited weapon without a permit and possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.
She is due to appear at Dubbo Local Court on 23 January 2019.
Investigations under Strike Force Yuba continue.
Anyone with information in relation to the illicit manufacture and supply of firearms is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
