SIX homes have been raided and three illegal guns seized, along with weapons, drugs and explosives, in an unprecedented police operation in Tamworth yesterday morning.
Fifty police from across Oxley and the wider Western Region, backed by New England and Sydney investigators, stormed six homes across West Tamworth and Coledale in a series of early-morning raids yesterday which led to six people being charged.
The heavy police operation was triggered after an armed robbery on Monday night, where police allege a gun was pointed at a Tamworth man in a targeted attack for money in Susanne St.
“Guns and drugs are a deadly cocktail and if people wish to carry firearms, then they are going to be dealt with promptly by police,” Oxley crime manager Detective Acting Inspector Jason Darcy said.
“It was a serious matter that occurred on Monday night. It was targeted, but there is no cause for community alarm.”
The Leader was there as a man was arrested in a Maitland St caravan, where police discovered a sawn-off shotgun, and also in Maxwell St, where the door was bashed down and a haul of drugs, including ice and steroids, drug paraphernalia, a samurai sword, machetes and suspected stolen goods were uncovered.
“Police received information and acted swiftly, with the assistance of officers, including detectives from New England. State Crime Command provided staff and resources from the Child Abuse Squad and the Firearms Squad in Sydney, as well as Western Region police, including regional Operation Support Group and Target Action Group officers and general-duties sector police from Manilla, Quirindi and Kootingal, to do these warrants,” Detective Acting Inspector Darcy said.
“This shows the response by the NSW police, who will use all the resources needed.”
Six teams of officers swarmed the houses of interest after 6am yesterday, executing six search warrants.
In Susanne St, police discovered explosives and knives in a house, while in Anthony Rd a 16-year-old has been charged after officers found a quantity of cannabis.
In Cossa St, investigators uncovered a double-barrel shotgun, which was confirmed as stolen in 2003, while in Robert St, an 18-year-old woman has been charged after police seized an illegal firearm and ammunition.
“We believe that this is a group of people who think that they are above the law and can go around threatening people with firearms,” Detective Acting Inspector Darcy said.
“Police and the community of Tamworth will not tolerate this sort of stuff, and especially people in the West Tamworth area, they deserve to live without this sort of behaviour.
“We appeal to people in the West Tamworth area, if they have information on illegal firearms or prohibited drugs, please come forward and it will be treated confidentially.”
Originally published as GALLERY: Six charged, firearms seized as police storm West homes by Northern Daily Leader.