Man, 58, charged with firearm offences

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A 58-year-old man has been charged with firearm offences as investigations continue into a suspicious fire at a South Coast property last year.

On Tuesday 5 January, 2020, a home on Yalwal Road, Barringella, west of Nowra, was destroyed by fire.

The fire was deemed suspicious and detectives from South Coast Police District established Strike Force Cairnlea to investigate the circumstances surrounding the blaze.

“As part of inquiries, strike force investigators with the assistance of the State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad, executed a search warrant at the Barringella property about 10am on Friday,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“During the search, investigators seized $500,000 cash from a safe, a .22 Remington pump action rifle with scope and silencer, ammunition and an electronic stun device.”

A 58-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Nowra Police Station.

He was charged with possess unregistered firearm – not prohibited firearm/pistol, not keep firearm safely – not prohibited firearm/pistol, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, and two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Nowra Local Court on April 12.