Stolen Cars, Fake guns and cannabis seized as Taskforce Falcon makes first arrests in crackdown on violent crime

The taskforce assembled to tackle Sydney’s bloody underworld war has made multiple arrests and seized weapons and drugs, as police ramp up their crackdown.

Taskforce Falcon officers charge three men and seize three cars during operation’s first week. Picture: NSW Police.

The taskforce set up to crack down on Sydney’s escalating underworld violence has made its first move, arresting three people, recovering allegedly stolen vehicles and seizing fake firearms and drugs during a raid on a Western Sydney property.

Officers from Taskforce Falcon hit the ground this week after being formally briefed at their new joint headquarters by senior police leaders, including Deputy Commissioner David Hudson with the new operation set to target violent crime across Sydney.

At about 6.30am on Wednesday, officers executed a search warrant at a large property in Austral where Inside, they found three vehicles – a Volkswagen Golf, BMW and Lexus – which were allegedly stolen between May 25 and May 28.

 

A 37-year-old man who arrived at the property during the raid was arrested and later charged with two counts of possessing suspected stolen vehicles.

A 37-year-old man who arrived at the scene was arrested in relation to the vehicles. Picture NSW Police.

He was granted conditional bail and will appear in Liverpool Local Court on July 16.

During the raid, officers also discovered four gel blasters disguised as real firearms – including three resembling semi-automatic pistols and one revolver – as well as a hydroponic set up with six cannabis plants.

Sydney’s newest crime-fighting unit has made multiple arrests and seized weapons and drugs from a suburban bolthole. Picture NSW Police.

Two more men, aged 52 and 41, were also arrested.

The older man was charged with firearm and drug offences and was refused bail to appear in court on Thursday.

A Volkswagen Golf, BMW and Lexus where found at the home in Austral. Picture NSW Police.

The 41-year-old was charged with cultivating a prohibited plant.

Police say Taskforce Falcon will continue its proactive targeting of Sydney’s violent crime networks in the weeks ahead.

Taskforce Falcon has made a number of arrests. Picture NSW Police.

Taskforce Falcon was formed in response to Sydney’s escalating crime wave, launched as bodies piled up and bullets flew in a bloody turf war between rival gangs.

The unit is made up of a 150-officers consolidating 13 investigative strike forces and aims to address a surge in violent crimes, including shootings, arson, and kidnappings, linked to feuding organised crime groups such as the Alameddine network and the KVT gang.

Proactive taskings commence under Taskforce Falcon, as officers attached to Raptor Squad, Operational Support Group ODIN and South West Metropolitan Region execute Firearm Prohibition Order compliance checks in Greystanes and Merrylands. Picture: Supplied

The recent fatal shooting of Dawood Zakaria (left) shone the spotlight on Sydney’s escalating crime wave. Picture: Supplied Source

The formation of Taskforce Falcon was prompted by a series of violent incidents, notably the fatal shooting of Dawood Zakaria, an associate of the Alameddine crime syndicate, and the injury of solicitor Sylvan Singh, an innocent bystander.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Stolen Cars, Fake guns and cannabis seized as Taskforce Falcon makes first arrests in crackdown on violent crime