16 January 2025

Duo charged with more than 130 firearm and drug offences in two-state blitz

| Shri Gayathirie Rajen
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rifle

Strike Force Nettin officers arrested two people after investigating the manufacture and supply of firearms and prohibited drugs across the Murray River region and border towns. Photos: NSW Police.

A man and a woman have been charged with more than 130 firearm and drug offences as part of an ongoing investigation in the Riverina.

Murray River Police District officers established Strike Force Nettin in August 2024 to investigate the manufacture and supply of firearms and prohibited drugs across the Murray River region and border towns.

Police said strike force officers, with assistance from Victoria Police, executed a search warrant in King Street, Rutherglen, Victoria, on 9 January at about 7:45 am.

During the search, an allegedly stolen rifle, a privately manufactured firearm, ammunition, firearm parts, tools, and equipment used to manufacture firearms were seized.

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At a separate location within the police district, officers executed a warrant and found five privately manufactured firearms and parts. They also seized six firearms, an SUV, two jet skis and other property, which police will allege were stolen.

A 36-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man were arrested at the scene before being extradited to NSW, where they were taken to Albury Police Station.

The woman was charged with 102 offences relating to the ongoing supply of prohibited drugs and the supply of commercial quantities of drugs, mainly methylamphetamine, in NSW and Victoria.

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The man is facing 31 charges, including supplying a pistol to a person unauthorised to possess it, manufacturing prohibited firearms without a licence/permit, five counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol, and three counts of possessing an unregistered firearm – not pistol.

They both faced Albury Local Court on 10 January where they were formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on 4 March.

Investigations under Strike Force Nettin continue, with more arrests expected.

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