Guns and ammo stash found in Cairns storage unit after drug bust

Cairns police were shocked to find nine high powered weapons in a storage unit after an airport drug bust.

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TWO co-accused arrested over a storage unit weapons haul have been remanded in custody.

Andii Jared Wilson, 31, and Mikaela Anne Gates-Hull, 23, did not appear in Cairns Magistrates Court yesterday but had their matters briefly mentioned.

The pair were arrested at Cairns Airport on Sunday.

It is alleged police found nine firearms including high powered semiautomatic rifles, large calibre handguns, sawn-off shotguns and ammunition in a Portsmith unit, including a Chinese built ‘Norinco’ SKS carbine – a copy of the Russian service rifle dating to the late 1940s.

Six of the weapons were classed as Category H firearms.

“They are either handguns or long arm rifles that have been shortened,” Plain Clothed Senior Constable Darren Lucht said during a press conference at Cairns police station yesterday.

“Semi-automatic weapons are quite rare but are highly sought after in the criminal world,” PC Snr Const. Lucht said.

“We haven’t been able to determine where they have come from.

“It is concerning, especially finding up to nine firearms in the one place.”

The haul included ammunition that had deteriorated in storage.

“It’s condition suggests it was stored somewhere in bulk,” PC Snr Const. Lucht said.

The raid followed the defendants’ arrest, at which point officers found “a significant quantity” of ice and heroin stashed in their clothing and luggage.

Officers found five ounces of methylamphetamine – with a street value of $30,000.

The pair were each charged with four counts of possession of a dangerous drug as well as one count each of possession of a dangerous drug in a quantity exceeding schedule 3 of the Drugs Misuse Act, possession of drug utensils and possession of suspected stolen property.

Mr Wilson was further charged with nine counts of unlawful possession of firearms and one count each of unlawful possession of a restricted weapon and unlawful possession of explosives.

His matters were adjourned for mention today and Ms Gates-Hull’s tomorrow.

Originally published as Guns and ammo stash found in Cairns storage unit after drug bust