Craig McPhee is set to return to court in February over weapons charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
A Riverina man has pleaded not guilty to firearms charges following a police investigation into the alleged illegal manufacture of firearms in the region from February 2023.
Craig McPhee, 56, fronted Griffith Local Court on 18 January, charged with weapons offences.
McPhee was charged with 11 offences, including: acquiring firearm parts and pistol parts without the authority to do so; acquiring pistol parts, firearm parts and ammunition subject to prohibition orders; possessing ammunition without holding a permit or licence; possessing a barrel for a firearm; possessing a prohibited drug; manufacturing a prohibited firearm without a licence/permit; and cultivating a prohibited plant.
Appearing before Magistrate Trevor Khan, the Leeton man pleaded not guilty to all charges. He had the previous charges of manufacturing a prohibited firearm without a licence and two counts of acquiring a firearm without authority withdrawn.
Officers from the Murrumbidgee Police District’s Proactive Crime Team launched an investigation into the alleged illegal manufacture of firearms in the region in February 2023.
Following inquiries, police executed a firearms prohibition search at a home in Wallowa Street, Leeton, on 16 March.
During the search, police allegedly seized firearms parts for automatic weapons, ammunition, firearms blueprints, as well as cannabis and cannabis plants.
McPhee was arrested at the scene and taken to Leeton Police Station.
After further inquiries, police executed a search warrant at a home in Macquarie Street Wamoon, on 21 March.
Police seized a .22-calibre rifle, an airsoft rifle, ammunition, a slingshot, cannabis and cannabis plants. Dennis Reeves was arrested at the scene and taken to Leeton Police Station.
McPhee is set to reappear at Griffith District Court on 23 February for the trial.
Loading ...
