Police seize huge cache of high powered rifles and illicit drugs

Police allege two arrested in connection to a dangerous cache of high-powered weapons were trading meth for guns, while investigators say there’s “nothing to suggest” a terror-style plot was being planned.

A secret cache of allegedly stolen semiautomatic rifles, a revolver, shotgun, cash and illicit drugs have been uncovered during SERT raids on Cairns properties.

Detectives from the Major and Organised Crime Squad Far Northern with support from the Far North Tactical Crime Squad, Special Emergency Response Team and Cairns Intel executed search warrants at houses in Holloways Beach and Edmonton on Saturday.

During the search, police located $35,000 in cash, methylamphetamine, MDMA, GHB, ketamine, 24 illegal firearms including five semiautomatic rifles, a revolver, shotgun, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.

Cash hidden in a curtain was found during a police raid on Saturday. Picture: QPS

Some of the firearms were stolen from Palm Cove, Mirriwinni, Mareeba, Wrights Creek and Aurukun between 2014 and 2024, according to police.

Arrest vision released by police shows guns wrapped in painters’ drop sheets and bundles of $50 notes were found secreted in hanging curtains.

It’s understood an M1 Carbine – used by the US Military during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War – was among the seized firearms.

A modified Russian-made AK47 assault rifle was also found at the Holloways Beach Airbnb raided by police, Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said.

He said possession of automatic and semi-automatic weapons was illegal unless the firearm is required for legitimate reasons such as feral pest control.

“Probably the concerning part of that is the semi-automatic weapons and the handgun that was located,” he said.

The full cache of weapons found during police raids at the weekend. Picture: QPS

“What the person charged was doing - he possessed those firearms - is still subject to ongoing investigations, but like I say, we’re happy to have those firearms off the streets.”

Inspector Goan said early investigations had revealed the two suspects were receiving guns in exchange for drugs and a potential terror-style plot had not been entirely ruled out by investigating officers.

“There is nothing to suggest that,” he said.

“But as a part of our investigations, we would pay due diligence to all that sort of thing to rule out all scenarios.

“We would look to see how they were intended to be used, or what the trade was but as I say, (there’s) absolutely nothing to suggest anything more nefarious at this time.”

What appears to be an M1 carbine semiautomatic rife was among the large cache of firearms. Picture: QPS

A 44-year-old Edmonton man and a 30-year-old Brinsmead woman were arrested at a Poinsettia Street property in Holloways Beach.

Officer in Charge of the Major and Organised Crime Squad Far Northern Detective Senior Sergeant Brad Grace said there was no place for illegal weapons or substances in the Cairns community.

Just some of the high-powered rifles seized by police. Picture: QPS

“We will continue to target those people (allegedly) causing harm and disrupt the alleged supply of dangerous drugs in the Far North,” he said.

“Our first priority is community safety, so we urge anyone who has information about these types of offences to contact police.”

The Edmonton man was charged with 19 offences including various drug offences, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence, authority required to possess explosives, unlawful possession of weapons 10 or more weapons, contravening order about information necessary to access information stored electronically, and possess utensils or pipes.

Ammunition was also found by police. Picture: QPS

He was refused bail and was due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on February 3.

The Brinsmead woman was charged with 11 offences including two counts each of supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime, unlawful possession of weapons 10 or more weapons, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence and possess drug utensils or pipes.

She is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on February 18.

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Originally published as Police seize huge cache of high powered rifles and illicit drugs