Operation Boa: Dubbo man Thomas Hill pleads guilty to 23 firearm charges

An offender has admitted to the use and supply of a stash of firearms after he was busted at his Central West property.

The Dubbo Court House. Picture: Rohan Kelly

An offender has admitted to a string of firearm charges after a stash of weapons, capsicum spray, studded gloves and cash was located at his Central West home.

Thomas James Hill, 51, appeared at Dubbo Local Court from custody via audiovisual link on Thursday after being arrested earlier this year at his property on Baird Drive, Dubbo. Court documents state police seized four rifles, three shortened firearms, two gel blasters, multiple knives, an air rifle, a taser, ammunition, $2200 worth of cash, other weapons and drugs. On Thursday, Hill pleaded guilty to three counts of using or supplying a stolen firearm or firearm part, three counts of possessing a shortened firearm, possessing an unregistered firearm, 12 counts of possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit, three counts of possessing an unauthorised firearm and dealing with more than $100,000 of proceeds of crime.

The offender also had several other firearm and drug charges dropped. Orana Mid-Western Police District officers conducted a search of his property on January 4, 2024, in relation to Operation Boa. Hill was also subjected to both a firearms prohibition order and weapons prohibition order. Court documents stated before the search of the property began, the offender told police he had an “old slug gun” and a “gram of ice”.

Thomas Hill is 51 years old. Photo: Supplied.

Upon arrival, police located two gel-blasters. Hill was arrested immediately and removed from the premises.

Police also located three shortened firearms, three prohibited firearms, various types of ammunition, cash, air rifles, four firearms stolen from a previous break-in at Dunedoo Newsagency, 12 prohibited weapons, including two flick knives, capsicum spray, handcuffs, push daggers, studded gloves.

In February 2023, the Dunedoo Newsagency was broken into, with seven firearms stolen, including the four which were found at Hill’s property.

The case will be mentioned in Dubbo District Court on November 14.