Hunter Valley: Toby Basil Johnson charged after eight guns seized during search warrants at Carrowbrook and Davis Creek

A man has been remanded in custody after police allegedly seized eight guns – including four rifles and two shotguns – following an investigation into farm break-ins across the Upper Hunter.

Eight guns were allegedly seized by Strike Force Lucinden detectives during two search warrants on April 10, 2025. Toby Basil Johnson has been charged with 18 offences. Picture: NSW Police.

A man has been remanded in custody after raids uncovered eight guns and a long list of alleged stolen property following an investigation detectives into a series of farm burglaries across the Upper Hunter over a six-week period.

Strike Force Lucindale, comprising of detectives from the Hunter Valley rural crime prevention team, performed search warrants at the properties at Carrowbrook and Davis Creek, near Lake St Clair north of Singleton, on April 10.

It followed the investigation into the alleged break-ins into rural properties at nearby Mount Royal and Rouchel between February 20 and April 1 where guns, ammunition, cars and farm utilities were allegedly stolen.

The simultaneous raids last Thursday morning allegedly uncovered eight unregistered firearms, including a bolt action rifle, a .22 calibre long rifle, a Boita rifle, a double barrel shotgun, a pump action shotgun, a 303 bolt action rifle, two antique guns and associated ammunition.

“Also located were two Polaris all-terrain vehicles, a Honda XRF motorcycle, a Yamaha peewee 50 motorbike, a red quad bike, a Nissan Patrol 4WD, a Nissan Patrol utility; swords, a box trailer and loading ramps, a surfboard, trail cameras and numerous other items,” police said in a statement.

Police recovered that they allege was a large amount of stolen property, including a surfboard, during two search warrants on April 10, 2025. Picture: NSW Police.

Toby Basil Johnson, 23, was arrested during one of the raids and taken to Singleton Police station where he was charged with 18 offences.

They include four counts of break, enter and steal, three counts of stealing a motor vehicle, three counts of possessing an unregistered firearm and one count each of possessing more than three unregistered firearms, not keeping a firearm safely, supplying a prohibited drug, possessing a prohibited drug, goods in custody, stealing and stealing a trailer.

Two antique guns allegedly seized. Picture: NSW Police.

Johnson faced Singleton Local Court on Friday where he was not required to enter any please.

A release application was unsuccessful and magistrate Kevin Hockey remanded Johnson in custody before he faces Court again on May 1.