News

Bust smoker then search reveals gun

A MAN stopped by police for smoking in a restricted area at the Bankstown bus interchange, was allegedly found with a pistol.

The man, who also is the subject of a Firearms Prohibition Order, was arrested during a two-day, state-wide operation targeting knife crime and anti-social behaviour after police allegedly located a pistol in a bag that the 33-year-old was carrying.
He was charged with possess unauthorised firearm, acquire etc firearm – subject to prohibition order and smoke in or on public passenger vehicle, train, public area.
Operation Foil saw more than 800 officers from every Police Area Command and Police District in NSW, assisted by specialist officers from Youth Command, Police Transport and Public Safety Command and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, targeting knife crime and anti-social behaviour.
Additionally, police detected a number of breaches, including 51 people arrested over outstanding warrants, 170 drug detections, 1,065 traffic infringement notices issued and 410 rail infringement notices issued. There were also almost 5,000 random breath tests and 469 bail compliance checks.
North-West Metropolitan Region’s Operations Manager, Detective Superintendent Darren Newman, said the operation was aimed at removing weapons from the streets and making the community safer.
“Operation Foil was established to focus on knife crime and to get these dangerous weapons out of the hands of those individuals who may potentially use them to target other people,” he said.
“If you are armed with a knife and become involved in an altercation where someone is injured or even killed, you can face a substantial prison sentence.”