Over 100 Illegal Firearms Seized in Major NSW Bust—Authorities Crack Down on Fraudulent Gun Licenses"
In a massive breakthrough, NSW Drug and Firearms Squad detectives have seized over 150 firearms and charged multiple individuals after uncovering a fraudulent firearms licensing ring that could have armed criminals across Sydney.
Launched in September 2023, Strike Force Excavator was established by detectives from State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad and the NSW Firearms Registry to tackle licensing loopholes exploited by Organised Crime Networks. The investigation revealed shocking evidence of businesses in Liverpool and Bobs Creek allegedly providing fake documentation to over 1,000 firearms applicants, some with links to organised crime.
The majority of applicants were based in south-west Sydney, with the fraudulent documentation granting them permission to shoot on a property in far western NSW. However, investigators found the property owner had only permitted one person to shoot legally, exposing the rest of the approvals as fraudulent.
On September 24, 2024, Strike Force detectives, with support from Raptor Squad and specialist officers, executed search warrants at properties in Liverpool and Bobs Creek, leading to the seizure of over 150 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and $380,000 in cash.
A 50-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman were arrested in Liverpool, while a 58-year-old woman in Port Macquarie faces 14 counts of document fraud, with more charges expected as the investigation continues.
Detective Superintendent John Watson, head of the Drug and Firearms Squad, expressed grave concerns about the scale of the fraud, stating that these illegal licenses may have put firearms in the hands of dangerous criminals, fueling street violence across Sydney.
“Our detectives will track down every single person who obtained one of these fraudulent firearms licenses,” Watson warned, adding, “this operation exposed a direct pathway for criminals to legally acquire guns.”
With investigations ongoing, Strike Force Excavator is set to expose further links to organised crime, and more arrests are anticipated.
Stay updated as the story unfolds—this is a critical operation in the fight to keep illegal guns off Sydney’s streets.