Raptor Squad has charged five people and seized 26 firearms, 2,500 rounds of ammunition and illicit drugs during a high-visibility operation targeting the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) across the Oxley and New England Police Districts.
The three-day operation ran from Monday 24 August 2026 to Wednesday 26 August 2026, focusing on Bandidos OMCG members and associates allegedly involved in criminal and anti-social behaviour.
During the operation, police conducted six firearm prohibition order (FPO) compliance checks, resulting in four men and a woman being charged.
Incidents of note:
- About 6.10am on Tuesday, police executed an FPO compliance check at a property in Saumarez Ponds. Officers seized three rifles and almost 1000 rounds of ammunition. A 26-year-old man was arrested and taken to Armidale Police Station, where he was charged with firearm found at premises-subject to prohibition order. He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Armidale Local Court on Tuesday 22 September 2026.
- About 7.45am on Tuesday, police executed an FPO compliance check a home in Oxley Vale. During the search, officers allegedly seized 2.5g of cocaine. A 29-year-old woman was served a future court attendance notice for possess prohibited drug, while a 21-year-old man was arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station where he was charged with breaching bail. He was refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Local Court 5 the same day.
- About 12.20pm on Tuesday, police executed an FPO compliance check at a home in Winton. During the search, police allegedly seized four firearms – including a double barrel shotgun – ammunition, 13 prohibited weapons, 14,000 illegal cigarettes and prohibited drugs. A 39-year-old man was arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station, where he was charged with 20 offences including possess more than 3 unregistered firearms 1 is prohibited/pistol, goods in personal custody suspected stolen, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, three counts of possess prohibited drug and thirteen counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit. He was refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Local Court, where he was formally refused bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
- About 6.40am yesterday (Wednesday 26 August 2026), police executed an FPO compliance check at a home in South Tamworth. During the search, police allegedly seized 48g of methylamphetamine, 5g of heroin, 1g of cocaine, a taser, two slingshots and cash. A 39-year-old woman and 30-year-old man were arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station. The woman was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug greater than indictable & less than commercial quantity, supply prohibited drug less than small quantity, two counts of possess prohibited drug, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, owner/occupier knowingly expose child to drugs and recklessly deal with proceeds of crime less than $5000. She was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Local Court 5 today (Thursday 27 August 2026). The man was charged with possess prohibited drug, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit and breach of bail. He was refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Local Court 5 yesterday and was granted conditional bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Monday 31 August 2026.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
