A modern military self-loading rifle, a 1980s-era locally manufactured SAR rifle, and a Cold War era SKS semiautomatic rifle were among a cache of weapons seized by police during a raid on what they allege was a criminal \u201csafe house\u201d.<\/p>\n
Officers attached to Strike Force Falcon and the Raptor Squad raided the house on Punchbowl Rd, Punchbowl on Tuesday morning finding the three weapons, as well as allegedly 35g of cocaine, $10,000 in cash and 53 mobile phones.<\/p>\n
The raid was part of a three-month investigation into three alleged public place shootings in the Lake Illawarra and Sydney\u2019s southwest.<\/p>\n
The first was on April 9 in Kalang Ave in Kanahooka, followed by two others on April 12 in Columbine Ave, Punchbowl and Noble Ave, Greenacre.<\/p>\n
Two men \u2013 aged 19 and 18 \u2013 and two boys \u2013 aged 17 and 16 \u2013 have since been charged and remain before the courts.<\/p>\n
Among the firearms seized during Tuesday\u2019s raid were a modern military self-loading rifle, a 1980s-era locally manufactured SAR which was once a contender to replace the L1A1 rifles used by Australian troops during the Vietnam War, and a Cold War era SKS semiautomatic rifle, which have become popular among members of Sydney\u2019s criminal networks in recent months.<\/p>\n
Eight men aged between 18 and 22, two women aged 20 and 21, and a 16-year-old boy, were arrested and taken to Bankstown and Campsie Police Station for questioning.<\/p>\n
They were all later charged with offences including possess more than three unregistered firearms, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and found on\/entering\/leaving drug premises.<\/p>\n
Taskforce Falcon commander Detective Superintendent Jason Box said the individuals charged had been \u201ctaken by surprise\u201d as officers descended on the property.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a lot of people running to different locations, but police acted well. We had the perimeter set up, and all those persons were arrested,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the males are known to us. Three are (due to) reasonably serious offences. There\u2019s no link to organised crime networks, but they are associated with organised crime. We\u2019ve alleged that they\u2019re potentially providing means and resources to contract criminals who commit serious offences across Sydney.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would appear they are providing the weapons, which makes them just as complicit in these offences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Superintendent Box said the age of the weapons had no bearing on their effectiveness, and they were still \u201cjust as dangerous\u201d as any modern firearm.<\/p>\n
\u201cNotwithstanding the age of these firearms, they\u2019re still effective. The taskforce has so far seized about 60 firearms. They\u2019re new, privately made, and they can be older, but they\u2019ve all been operational,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor criminals, it\u2019s just whatever source they can get their hands on. I don\u2019t think they tend to look at make and model or vintage, they\u2019ll take whatever they can. They\u2019re just as effective and just as dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n
All were refused bail and made their first court appearances on Wednesday.<\/p>\n