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NSW: Second man charged over cache of rare and banned guns


02 Apr 2009 11:46 PM

SYDNEY, April 2 AAP - A second man has been charged over a year-long operation targeting the illegal supply of military-style firearms and other weapons.

The weapons include a Russian-designed Kalashnikov military rifle - the first to be recovered by NSW police.

A 62-year-old man was arrested on Thursday after police raided a Sydney property in Noble Street, Concord, where they allegedly uncovered 3,600 rounds of 7.62 calibre ammunition.

He was charged with 24 offences, including three counts of possessing unregistered prohibited firearms, three counts of selling prohibited firearms and one count of possessing ammunition.

The man appeared in Burwood Local Court on Thursday afternoon and did not apply for bail. He is due back in court on May 27.

In a similar raid on Wednesday in Powder Works Road, Elanora Heights, firearms and organised crime squad officers seized a large cache of weapons, including a .22 Magnum revolver, a 12-gauge shotgun, a .410 calibre shotgun and ammunition, two .22 calibre rifles, two Lee Enfield .303 bolt-action rifles, a M6 Scout dual calibre shotgun/rifle, a .270 calibre bolt-action rifle, a .45 calibre muzzle loading rifle, a 22-250 calibre bolt-action rifle, a Martini Action rifle, two air rifles, a crossbow, a metal-framed slingshot, ammunition and a silencer.

A 59-year-old man was arrested at the property at Sydney's northern beaches and charged with 38 counts of charges including possession of unregistered firearms, not keeping a firearm safe and not keeping ammunition safe.

He was granted bail to appear before Manly Local Court on Thursday.

Police have refused to comment on whether the weapons are linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs.