Teen arrested and charged after allegedly staging stolen Mercedes with firearms in Guildford

Taskforce Falcon detectives have charged a 16-year-old boy after a stolen Mercedes allegedly loaded with weapons, fuel and disguises was discovered in Guildford earlier this week.

Taskforce Falcon detectives have charged a teenage boy over the alleged staging of a car in Guildford earlier this month.

A teenage boy has been charged after police uncovered a cache of weapons and alleged evidence of a planned violent crime inside a stolen car in Sydney’s west.

Detectives from Taskforce Falcon – a specialist unit launched by State Crime Command in May to target violent crime across Sydney – arrested the 16-year-old during a raid in Guildford on Thursday evening.

The arrest follows the discovery of a stolen Mercedes on Junction St in Guildford shortly before 5.45pm on Tuesday by officers during proactive patrols assigned by Taskforce Falcon.

Inside the car, police allegedly found a semi-automatic assault rifle, a handgun, a jerry can filled with fuel, ammunition and face coverings. A crime scene was established, and the items were seized for forensic analysis.

Following inquiries, detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad and the South West Metropolitan Operational Support Group – executed a search warrant at a Guildford property just after 6pm on Thursday.

A semi-automatic assault rifle uncovered during the operation. Picture: NSW Police Force

A jerry can filled with fuel was found in the search. Picture: NSW Police Force

During the search, officers allegedly located two mobile phones and clothing believed to be linked to the investigation.

The 16-year-old was arrested at the scene and taken to Granville Police Station, where he was charged with dispose motor vehicle part–theft–serious indictable offence > $5000, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner and never licensed person drive vehicle on road

He was refused bail and is expected to appear in a children’s court on Friday.

The weapons were found in this stolen car in Guildford. Picture: NSW Police Force

Officers also seized ammunition. Picture: NSW Police Force

Taskforce Falcon is the fourth major operation put together by NSW Police since 2021 and follows Strike Force Hawk in 2021, Strike Force Erebus in 2022 and Taskforce Magnus in 2023.

There had been 25 people killed in public place shootings before Sunday’s attack, many of them linked to recent tit-for-tat feuds involving organised crime networks and bikie gangs, largely over drug territory or personal feuds.

Investigations under Taskforce Falcon remain ongoing.

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Originally published as Teen arrested and charged after allegedly staging stolen Mercedes with firearms in Guildford