Rodney Stevens
Three people have been charged and were refused bail after police raids on properties at Stockyard Creek and Woodenbong uncovered guns, ammunition, allegedly stolen vehicles and cannabis.
Police from Coffs Clarence Police District and Richmond Police District executed simultaneous search warrants at 9.30am on Tuesday January 17 on properties at Stockyard Creek, northwest of Grafton, and Woodenbong.
At the Stockyard Creek Road property officers were assisted by the Coffs Harbour Regional Enforcement Squad, State Crime Command Raptor Squad and Dog Unit where they located and seized five firearms, 37 grams of cannabis, and 14 cannabis plants.
At the property on Lindsey Street, Woodenbong, Richmond Police and Northern Rivers Region Enforcement Squad officers located and seized a firearm, ammunition and 442 grams of cannabis leaf.
The Woodenbong and Stockyard Creek property owners, a 61-year-old man and 59-year-old woman respectively, were arrested at Stockyard Creek and taken to Grafton Police Station.
The 61-year-old man was charged with three counts of possess unauthorised firearm, possess ammunition without license, two counts of possess prohibited drug, and cultivate prohibited plant.
The 59-year-old woman was charged with two counts of possess unauthorised firearm, cultivate prohibited plant, and possess prohibited drug.
Both were refused bail to appear at Grafton Local Court on Wednesday January 18.
Following the execution of the search warrant at the Stockyard Creek property, investigators commenced inquiries at an adjacent property where they saw cannabis plants growing.
A crime scene was declared at the property and police conducted a search of the area.
The search revealed four firearms, ammunition, 223 cannabis plants, 350 grams of cannabis leaf, a small cannon, and a range of allegedly stolen vehicles and other items, including a caravan and tractor.
A 49-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Grafton Police Station where he was charged with 19 offences including possess more than 3 unregistered firearms, four counts of not keeping firearm safely, possess ammunition without holding license, supply prohibited drug, cultivate cannabis, three counts of goods suspected stolen in/on premises, and receive property-theft (serious indictable offence > $5000).
He was refused bail to appear at Grafton Local Court on Wednesday January 18.