A 57-year-old woman is one of five people charged over the supply of illegal firearms allegedly stolen during break and enters across the state’s Western Region, with Police seizing 39 guns in a series of raids.
In October last year, detectives attached to the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad, together with officers from Chifley Region Enforcement Squad (RES) and the NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC), established Strike Force Batch to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs and firearms across Western NSW, NSW Police said in a statement today.
“During the investigation, police were notified of the theft of 15 firearms from a storage container on a property on Pitts Road, Hartley Vale, about 11km south-east of Lithgow, between Tuesday 29 December 2020 and Thursday 31 December 2020.”
“A week later, officers from Chifley Police District located an empty firearms storage safe near a dam in the Lidsdale State Forest and a search of the dam was conducted by Police Divers.
“During the investigation, officers from Western Region Enforcement Squad, with assistance from Chifley Traffic and Highway Patrol and the Dog Unit, arrested a 41-year-old man in a vehicle stop on Sydney Road, Raglan, about 9pm on Wednesday 28 April 2021.”
In a search of the vehicle, officers located and seized six firearms – including a loaded .22 Miroku lever action rifle. The man was taken to Bathurst Police Station and charged with 11 offences. The Capertree man – now aged 42 – appeared at Bathurst Local Court the following day and is next due to reappear at the same court on September 8.
“The six firearms were ballistically examined and subsequently identified as guns stolen during the break and enter offence at Lithgow in December last year,” NSW Police said.
“As part of ongoing inquiries, strike force detectives, with assistance from Western Region Operations Support Group (OSG), executed three search warrants at properties in Rockley, Cobar Park and Windradyne from 6am on May 19.
“During the search at Rockley, police seized 35 items, including three pistols, two rifles, methylamphetamine (ice), cannabis, ammunition, electronic devices, prescription medication and crossbow bolts.”
Two men – aged 54 and 36 – and a 57-year-old woman were arrested during the operation.
A 54-year-old Rockley man was taken to Orange Police Station and charged with 17 offences, while a 36-year-old Cobar Park man was taken to Lithgow Police Station and charged with 15 offences. He appeared at Lithgow Local Court the same day and is next due to reappear at the same court today.
A 57-year-old Cobar Park woman was also taken to Lithgow Police Station and charged with possess prohibited drug and supply prohibited drug. She appeared at Lithgow Local Court last week and is next due to reappear at the same court on August 19.
Following further extensive investigations, Strike Force Batch detectives, with assistance from Western Region Enforcement Squad, arrested a 33-year-old man at a business at Mount Piper about 7.30am on Tuesday.
“Two search warrants were subsequently executed at homes at Lidsdale and Lithgow, where police seized two Toyota Landcruiser vehicles, two motorcycles, a high-performance motor vehicle engine, a stolen chainsaw and a pair of gold earrings valued at nearly $150,000.”
The man – who a Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) associate – was taken to Lithgow Police Station, where he was charged with 10 offences. He appeared at Lithgow Local Court yesterday, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court today.
