How firearms and cocaine were allegedly found in fake air-con unit
Rifles, pistols, revolvers and cocaine worth $2m were allegedly concealed in a fake air conditioning unit on the roof of a southern Sydney unit.
St George Shire Standard
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A man allegedly hid a shocking stash of loaded firearms and cocaine worth $2m in a fake airconditioning unit hidden in plain sight on a southern Sydney apartment block rooftop.
Joseph Farah, 27, was allegedly caught on electronic surveillance footage taking bags to and from an inactive, disconnected airconditioning unit allegedly concealing 7.7kg of cocaine and 11 firearms.
The firearms included a Springfield Armory XD semi-automatic pistol with five 9mm rounds loaded, a Ruger .22 calibre pistol with eight rounds loaded, a 9mm assault rifle with 16 rounds loaded, a Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol with seven 9mm rounds loaded, a CZ 75 semi-automatic pistol also loaded with seven 9mm rounds, a Smith and Wesson .357 calibre revolver, and a Remington .45 semi-automatic pistol with five .45 rounds loaded.
All the weapons were allegedly unregistered and not kept safely.
The fake airconditioning unit was allegedly hidden among several real, functioning units on a Rockdale apartment block rooftop which can only be accessed with a ladder from the penthouse apartments.
Police say Farah – who is not qualified in any kind of airconditioning installation or repairs – is clearly depicted in surveillance footage, which allegedly shows he is only person who accessed the rooftop prior to the police raid which uncovered the drugs and weapons.
Magistrate Jayeann Carney refused Farah’s bail application at Sutherland Local Court yesterday on the strength of the prosecution case.
“Electronic surveillance captured the accused walking up to the rooftop and approaching the airconditioning unit,” Ms Carney told the court.
“He’s carrying a sports bag – he’s then observed to remove the lid of the inactive airconditioning unit and is seen to remove a large plastic bag from the sports bag.
“The accused then places the bag in the unit and removes a small bag from the sports bag before placing it in the unit.”
Farah’s solicitor told the court he denies the charges, the most serious of which carries a maximum potential prison sentence of 25 years.
Farah will remain in custody until his next appearance via audiovisual link on October 29.
The police investigation began as Strike Force Raptor suspected Farah’s employer was using his building business as a front for drug and firearm supply.
Farah was wearing a Command Building Management uniform in the electronic surveillance footage.
Police have interviewed a number of potential witnesses, including Farah’s boss.
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