Guns, cocaine, meth seized in police sting

POLICE have dismantled an alleged organised crime syndicate accused of manufacturing and supplying illegal firearms on the NSW-ACT border.

Four men aged between 27 and 60 have been arrested and charged with more than 50 offences between them, over their alleged involvement in the cross-border operation following a series of early morning raids on Tuesday.

Officers from NSW hit homes in Queanbeyan, Gundaro and Nanima, and seized 38 firearms, blueprints to 3D printed firearms, thousands of bullets, $26,500 in cash, methylamphetamines, and a commercial quantity of cocaine.

A further $100,000 in cash and a stash of prohibited weapons were seized in separate search warrants executed by ACT Police at a home in Gungahlin and a business in Mitchell.

NSW Police Southern Region Operations Manager, Detective Superintendent Tim Beattie, said these arrests sends a strong message to those involved in the illicit supply of firearms.

“This has been a lengthy investigation from a number of specialist units within the NSW Police to dismantle an alleged organise crime syndicate.

“We will allege the group was privately-manufacturing illegal firearms in New South Wales and supplying illegal firearms in NSW and across the border in the ACT. With assistance from ACT Police we have taken a significant number of illegal firearms off the streets,” Supt Beattie said.

“We know in the wrong hands firearms can have a devastating and deadly impact on communities. We encourage members of the community to contribute to combatting illicit firearms and provide information to police by calling on Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Inquiries into Strike Force Calpe continue.