Police have charged six people with a combined 14 alleged offences following a three-day operation targeting domestic and family violence across the New England region.
Operation Shield ran from Tuesday 16 June to Thursday 18 June, conducted by officers from the Western Region Operations Support Group, Region Enforcement Squad, Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team and New England Police District. The surge focused on apprehending wanted domestic violence offenders and maintaining a swift, disruptive response to family violence incidents across the district.
During the operation, police seized two firearms, conducted eight drug seizures, carried out six Firearm Prohibition Order searches and executed a search warrant.
In one incident, police executed a search warrant and digital evidence access order at a Guyra residence about 10am on Tuesday 16 June. A 54-year-old man was arrested at the property, where police allege he was found in possession of methylamphetamine. A search of the home allegedly uncovered 11.8 grams of methylamphetamine, 0.5 grams of heroin, 24.4 grams of cannabis leaf, 1.4 grams of cannabis seed, two compact folding pistols and an amount of cash.
The man was taken to Armidale Police Station and charged with nine offences, including four counts of possessing a prohibited drug, two counts of supplying a prohibited drug, two counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol, and dealing with proceeds of crime up to $5,000. He was refused bail at Bail Division Court 5 on Wednesday 17 June and is due to appear at Armidale Local Court on Monday 22 June.
In a separate incident, police conducted a Firearm Prohibition Order search at an Armidale residence about 2.30pm on Tuesday 16 June. Following further inquiries, a 21-year-old man was arrested on Tysoe Crescent, Armidale, about 4pm the same day. He was charged with contravening a prohibition or restriction in a domestic AVO, refused bail, and is also due to appear at Armidale Local Court on Monday 22 June.
In a third incident, police served a 37-year-old man with a Firearm Prohibition Order and Weapon Prohibition Order at an Armidale residence about 8.45am on Wednesday 17 June. A search of the home allegedly located an amount of cannabis. The man was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for possessing a prohibited drug, and was granted bail when he appeared at Armidale Local Court on Thursday 18 June, with his case set to return to court on Monday 28 September.
Police said similar operations targeting domestic violence offences would continue.
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