Investigators attached to Taskforce Erebus have seized numerous items including rifles, handguns, prohibited weapons and drugs as part of ongoing activities to supress organised crime across Sydney.
Taskforce Erebus was established by the NSW Police Force, in partnership with the NSW Crime Commission, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and Australian Federal Police (AFP), to investigate a spate of recent murders and other serious organised crime.
The Taskforce is being led by State Crime Command (SCC) under the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Organised Crime Response Plan and includes detectives, analysts, and other resources as part of a bolstered multi-agency response.
Yesterday (Thursday 19 May 2022), police continued to conduct operational activity that includes:
- During proactive operations, police stopped the driver and passenger of a BMW X5 at a service station on the Great Western Highway at Granville just after 3am and spoke with the 27-year-old female driver and her 43-year-old male passenger. Officers searched the man and vehicle after checks revealed the woman was a disqualified driver and he was subject to both Weapon (WPO) and Firearm Prohibition Orders (FPO). During subsequent searches, police located cash, an electronic stun device, small amounts of methylamphetamine and heroin, and equipment consistent with the supply of prohibited drugs. Both arrested and taken to Merrylands Police Station. Acting on information, detectives – assisted by officers from Raptor Operation Support Group (OSG) – executed a search warrant at a unit on East Street at Granville around 12.30pm yesterday, seizing a shortened rifle with a silencer attached, ammunition, numerous batons and electronic stun devices, methamphetamine, a motorbike, and stolen mail. The man has since been charged with 11 drug and firearm related offences and was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Local Court yesterday, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Tuesday 31 May 2022. The woman was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug and drive motor vehicle during disqualification period – 2nd + offence and granted conditional bail to appear at the same court on Wednesday 29 June 2022.
- About 8am, officers from Bankstown Region Enforcement Squad (RES) and Raptor OSG executed a search warrant at a home on Linda Street, Fairfield Heights. During a subsequent search, police located and seized four firearms, including a revolver, a shortened rifle, a self-loading pistol, a replica Glock 22 gel-blaster, an electronic stun device, more than 30 grams of methylamphetamine, and other items. All items seized will undergo further forensic examinations. Inquiries continue.
Operations under Taskforce Erebus continue.
Anyone with information that may assist Taskforce Erebus investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or . Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
