THURSDAY, 10.45AM: Detectives have charged nine people as part of an investigation into an alleged prohibited firearm supply syndicate.
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Police said in January 2019 detectives from the State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Colenso to investigate the alleged supply of prohibited firearms across NSW.
Following their inquiries, a 23-year-old man was arrested at a home at Wallaga Lake on November 25, 2019 and taken to Narooma Police Station.
He was charged with unlawfully sell firearms three times or more within 12 months, two counts of supply prohibited firearm to unauthorised person, supply/give ammunition to person not authorised, supply firearm to person unauthorised, and sell prohibited weapon to buyer not authorised.
The man appeared at Batemans Bay Local Court on November 26 where he was formally refused bail to reappear at Gosford Local Court on January 31, 2020.
As part of their earlier inquiries, the strike force investigators arrested a 34-year-old man outside a court in Hornsby and a 22-year-old woman at a home at Woy Woy on November 7.
The Koolewong man was taken to Hornsby Police Station where he was charged with 22 offences including police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously, two counts of use/supply stolen firearm or firearm part, accessory aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, two counts of supply shortened firearm, manufacture firearm without licence/permit and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
Police will allege in court that the man supplied firearms on eight occasions, and firearms parts on three occasions, to another man between March and October 2019, receiving more than $58,000 for the transactions.
He appeared at Hornsby Local Court the same day, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at Gosford Local Court on January 31.
The woman was taken to Gosford Police Station where she received charges that included supply prohibited firearm to unauthorised person, supply/give ammunition to person not authorised and supply shortened firearm.
She appeared at Gosford Local Court on November 8 and is next due to appear on January 31 at the same court.
Following further inquiries, a 20-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were arrested at homes at Dubbo on November 13.
They were taken to Dubbo Police Station, where the man was charged with two counts of use/supply stolen firearm or firearm part and supply/give ammunition to person not authorised.
He appeared at Dubbo Local Court on November 14, where he was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at the same court on January 22.
The woman was charged with supply firearm to person unauthorised, unauthorised supply of firearm part, and supply/give ammunition to person not authorised.
She was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Dubbo Local Court on January 22.
Just before 6.30am on December 17 strike force detectives, with assistance from Strike Force Raptor, executed a search warrant at a home in Windsor.
During the search, police seized two inert hand grenades, ammunition, magazines, and two knives.
A 39-year-old man was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station, where he was charged with supply pistol to person unauthorised to possess it.
The man appeared at Penrith Local Court the same day, where he was formally refused bail to re-appear at the same court on February 11.
About 10.30am on December 30, strike force investigators arrested a 44-year-old man at Gosford Police Station, where he was charged with supply prohibited firearm to person unauthorised to possess it.
The Penrith man was refused bail and appeared at Gosford Local Court on December 31, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on January 23.
Investigators arrested a ninth person - a 32-year-old man - about 2am on January 11, following a vehicle stop on Albion St, Oberon.
The Millthorpe man was taken to Oberon Police Station, where he was charged with supply prohibited firearm to unauthorised person and sell prohibited weapon to buyer not authorised to possess.
He appeared at Bathurst Local Court the same day and was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on March 16.
Acting on information from investigators, officers from Police Transport Command arrested a 41-year-old Thornleigh man near Fairfield Train Station about 10.45am on January 15.
He was taken to Fairfield Police Station and charged with supply firearm to person unauthorised to possess it and refused bail to appear at Fairfield Local Court on January 16.
During the course of the investigation, police seized 17 firearms - including rifles, shotguns, shortened firearms and a pistol - firearm parts, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and prohibited weapons.
Nine of the firearms have been confirmed as stolen.
Investigations under Strike Force Colenso are ongoing.
EARLIER: Nine people have been charged as part of an investigation into an alleged firearm supply syndicate.
Police said in January 2019 detectives from the State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Colenso to investigate the alleged ongoing supply of prohibited firearms across NSW.
Seven men and two women have been arrested since November 2019 at locations including Wallaga Lake, Hornsby, Windsor, Woy Woy, Dubbo, Oberon, Gosford and Fairfield.
They have all been charged with offences including supply firearm to person unauthorised to possess it.
It will be alleged in court that a 34-year-old man supplied firearms on eight occasions, and firearms parts on three occasions, between March and October 2019, receiving nearly $60,000 for the transactions.
Police alleged many of the firearms were stolen from rural properties across NSW.
The men and woman all remain before the courts.