Raptor Squad officers have charged a man for allegedly possessing semi-automatic firearms, under Strike Force Allister.
In December 2023, officers attached to the State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad established Strike Force Allister to investigate the sale of firearms and prohibited drugs by members of an Inner West street gang.
Following inquiries, on Tuesday 12 December 2023, detectives executed a search warrant at a home on Putland Street, St Marys, locating a bag containing a semi-automatic rifle with two prohibited loaded magazines, a semi-automatic pistol with a loaded magazine, and additional ammunition.
The items along with cocaine, six mobile phones and clothing were seized for forensic examination.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators with the assistance of specialist resources, executed a search warrant at a home on Neutral Avenue, Birrong, about 6am yesterday (Friday 14 June 2024).
During the search, a mobile phone was seized for forensic examination.
A 27-year-old man was arrested at a second home nearby and taken to Bankstown Police Station.
He was charged with possess unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm, possess unregistered firearm-pistol, acquire prohibited firearm part no authority to do so, three counts of possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, not keep firearm safely – pistol, not keep firearm safely-prohibited firearm and supply prohibited drug – indictable quantity.
The man was refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court yesterday (Friday 14 June 2024).
Investigations under Strike Force Allister continue.
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. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
