Dozens of people have been charged across NSW during a widespread police operation.
From Thursday morning to Saturday morning, police charged 140 people and seized five guns, 61 knives and a set of knuckledusters, in an operation targeting knife crime and “anti-social behaviours”.
The 48-hour police blitz saw arrests made in Kincumber, Bankstown, Manly and Arndell Park and charges laid for weapons related offences, drug detections, outstanding warrants and bail condition breaches.
More than 4000 random breath tests were also conducted across “known hotspots and districts throughout the state”.
Police drug detection dogs were deployed to train stations around the city.
Detective acting Superintendent Glen Parks said Operation Foil had been a huge success.
“Operations such as this one is about keeping the public safe,” he said.
“The fact we were able to get five firearms and 61 knives off the street demonstrates the success of the operation.”
The number of knives carried by young people stood out as cause for alarm.
“It is still concerning that we still have a portion of the community who chose to carry knives; and it’s particularly concerning that a large number of these are young people,” he said.
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As part of the operation, a 30-year-old man was arrested in Kincumber, on the NSW central coast. Police allege the man was wanted for a number of offences including possessing a firearm, supplying prohibited drugs and kidnapping.
The man was charged with 18 offences and refused bail, to appear before Gosford Local Court in November.
On Thursday evening, a 46-year-old man was allegedly found with a set of knuckledusters at Bankstown station in Sydney’s south-west.
Police charged him over the possession of the prohibited weapon.
In another arrest made during the operation, a woman was arrested after a police chase along Reservoir Road in Arndell Park.
After the woman allegedly refused to stop, police deployed road spikes, bringing the vehicle to a stop.
She was charged for driving while disqualified, driving recklessly and drug possession.
