A Mudgee man has been arrested as part of a major police operation.
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NSW Police Force investigators have executed 33 search warrants, arrested 35 people and seized 27 firearms, more than $800,000 cash, luxury vehicles worth $1.5 million dollars and significant quantities of prohibited drugs during the state-based arm of Operation Ironside around the country.
Following these searches, 35 year-old David John Walker was arrested and taken to Mudgee Police Station.
Walker is facing charges of possessing an unregistered prohibited firearm; three counts of acquiring a prohibited firearm without a permit; four counts of not keeping a prohibited firearm safely stored; supplying more than an indictable quantity of drugs; dealing with the suspects proceeds of crime; dealing in a protected animal; two counts of holder of a firearms licence not have approved storage; handle explosive without a licence; and possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm. He was not required to enter pleas to the charges.
Mr Walker appeared in Mudgee Local Court via video link on Wednesday 9th June and made no application for bail. Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis formally refused bail, and ordered he remained in custody until the case returns to court on June 23.
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Operation Ironside was established by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), together with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 2018, to investigate serious organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs allegedly responsible for large-scale drug importations, drug manufacture and violent criminal activity.
During the NSW-based two-day operation, NSW Police Force investigators executed more than 33 search warrants at locations across the State, including Mudgee.
Just after 7am on Tuesday 7th June, detectives from the Drug and Firearm Squad, with the assistance from officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District, executed two searches at properties in Mudgee.
During the searches across multiple locations around the state, detectives seized 20 firearms - including a 50-calibre military style gun - nearly $12,000 cash, ammunition, electronic devices and cannabis.