Lake Illawarra Police saturate Warrawong during ‘knife wanding’ operation

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Lake Illawarra Police have seized multiple prohibited items during a ‘knife wanding’ operation in the Warrawong area earlier this week.

Operation Ares is a high visibility operation where officers use handheld scanners – or electronic metal-detecting ‘wands’.

On Monday 1 September 2025, officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District conducted a handheld scanning operation at Warrawong CBD and surrounding shopping precinct between 8am and 6pm.

During the operation the following results were achieved;

· 1 weapon was detected and seized

· 77 people scanned

· 4 people searched

· 3 drug detections

Notable incidents include;

– About 10.25am on Monday, police were conducting patrols on Cowper Street, Warrawong as part of the operation. Officers spoke to a 56-year-old man who allegedly told them he was carrying a knife. Officers searched the man, allegedly seizing a flick knife. He was issued with a criminal infringement notice for possession of a knife in a public place.

– About 11.25am on Monday, police were conducting patrols and attended a hotel on the corner of King and Cowper Street, Warrawong. Police searched a 55-year-old man, allegedly seizing methylamphetamine. The man was issued with a court attendance notice, to appear in Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday 15 October 2025.

/Public Release. View in full here.