On September 30, 2018, officers from the
Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North and Coffs/Clarence Police
District attended a rural property at Lanitza for the purpose of a Firearms
Prohibition Order (FPO) search.
While attempting to locate the subject of the FPO – a
36-year-old man – officers located a small cannabis crop growing on the
property.
They also located a .303 rifle in long grass a short
distance from the main homestead. It has been seized for forensic and ballistic
examination.
Further, Raptor North located a number of animals that appeared
to be malnourished, had limited access to clean water, and some were locked in
small cages or confined to small spaces. They also located deceased animals on
the property.
A crime scene was established and following an extensive
search, officers seized ten cannabis plants, cannabis, cocaine, various
calibres of ammunition, a firearm scope, fireworks, and a sling shot.
Police also contacted RSPCA NSW, who attended, seized the
animals and commenced an investigation.
Following extensive attempts to locate the man, he was
arrested at Grafton Police Station just before 10 am Monday 15 October
2018.
He was charged with fail to provide reasonable care to
animal, fail to provide water to animal, four counts of contravene firearms
prohibition order, three counts of possess ammunition without authority,
contravene weapons prohibition order, cultivate prohibited plant, possess
prohibited plant, and two counts of possess prohibited drug.
The man was
granted strict conditional bail to appear at Grafton Local Court on Monday 19
November 2018.
Investigations are continuing.
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and conducts
proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing
operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged
in serious organised criminal activity.
SOURCE: Mirage News