Two men have been charged after police found a shortened firearm during a vehicle stop in Moree on Monday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
At about 9am, officers from Moree Target Action Group stopped a vehicle on Belgravia Street, Moree.
The vehicle and two male occupants were searched where police will allege a shortened loaded .22 calibre firearm was located along with cash and prohibited drugs.
Both men, aged 33 and 63, were arrested and taken to Moree Police Station.
Police checks revealed both men were allegedly the subject of Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO), the 63-year-old man being served in 1975, police allege.
Following investigations, police searched an Ashley home and allegedly found further property including phones, electronic equipment and drug paraphernalia.
New England Superintendent Scott Tanner said firearms in the wrong hands is a major concern for police.
“The New South Wales Police Force has numerous resources and strategies at their disposal including the use of Firearms Prohibitions Orders which give us additional powers against targets deemed unfit to possess weapons and firearms,” he said.
READ ALSO:
“We make no apologies for doing everything in our power and using any resource we can to stamp out the use of illegal firearms in our community.”
The 33-year-old man was charged with acquiring firearm - subject to prohibition order, acquire ammunition subject to prohibition order, possess loaded firearm in a public place, possess shortened firearm and deal with property proceeds of crime under $100,000.
The 63-year-old man was charged with possess prohibited drug, possess loaded firearm in a public place, acquire a firearm subject to prohibition order, acquire ammunition subject to prohibition order, possess unauthorised firearm and possess shortened firearm.
Both men were refused bail. The vehicle was conveyed to Moree Police Station for further examination and inquiries continue.