Centennial Park arrest: Police swoop in dramatic operation
THREE members of an organised crime gang will face court tomorrow charged with firearms and money laundering offences after police seized two loaded handguns and almost $650,000 cash in a dramatic arrest at Centennial Park today.
NSW
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THE three members of an organised crime gang arrested in Sydney today will face court tomorrow on firearms and money laundering offences after $650,000 in cash and two loaded handguns were seized in the dramatic operation.
Detective Acting Superintendent Damien Beaufils said officers had been following the men in a van after being “tipped off” earlier in the day.
Tactical police were deployed to follow the men for hours before making their dramatic move in Centennial Park about 12.30pm.
Officers fired “tactical projectiles” through the windscreen of the van and arrested the men on the street
No one was injured in the operation.
It is understood the arrests were linked to an ongoing drug investigation.
Supt Beaufils said the men were found with a Beretta and a Smith and Wesson.
“We arrested three men in the Centennial Park area. Two were arrested with firearms and the third was arrested with a large sum of money,” he said.
“It was fairly important that we arrested them at the earliest opportunity.”
Supt Beufils said the matter was not related to terrorism but confirmed the men were believed to be members of an organised crime gang.
Footage of the operation showed a white four-wheel drive with its doors open and parked in the middle of Grand Drive.
Loud bangs were heard as police discharged a tactical device used to distract the suspects.
The windows of the van were broken during the incident.
Vision from the scene shows police vehicles blocking the road as officers inspect items collected during the operation.
Police confirmed the noises were part of their “tactical” response methods and not gunshots.
The operation unfolded about 100m from the park’s main cafe.
A witness said she initially thought she was watching a movie being shot. Helen, who declined to give her surname, was in her car when she heard several loud noises.
“I was sitting in my car writing and then ... bang, bang, bang, bang, bang ... and I looked over and there was smoke coming out of these automatic rifles,” she said.
“First thing I thought was ‘Oh it’s a movie, where’s the cast?’”. Helen then realised there were no cameras and, fearing for her life, she ducked down and reached for her phone to call triple-0.
“I knew to be careful and not put my head up or anything.”