Senior Sergeant Dennis Tocock with a centre-fire pump-action rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun, worth more than $7000, seized at a St Albans gun shop. 69436 Picture: ALESHA CAPONE
By Alesha Capone
NOTORIOUS warring crime groups in the North-West have been “lawful customers” of a St Albans gun dealership, where police seized 600 firearms last week.
On Monday 22 August, officers confiscated hundreds of guns from the Leslie St business.
The 79-year-old owner is expected to face charges of firearms offences, false accounting and using false documents.
The operation was launched three weeks after a tip-off and a police audit, which discovered bookkeeping irregularities.
Unit Senior Sergeant Dennis Tocock from the Victoria Police Licensing and Regulations Unit said the search revealed 17 firearms were missing from the shop, including a handgun and 16 “long arm” weapons.
Sen Sgt Tocock said people involved in recent violent armed confrontations in the northern suburbs, believed to be a turf war over drugs, have frequented the St Albans gun store in the past.
“Some of the people have been lawful customers of this shop, but as to whether there have been unlawful activities, we’re still working on that inquiry,’’ he said.
Sen Sgt Tocock said other crimes have been linked to the St Albans shop and the missing weapons would have a high value on the black market.
“Naturally, we’re concerned that they may have gone to people with criminal backgrounds,’’ he said.
“They are probably used in offences, but as to where I can’t comment.
“Naturally, it’s concerning with the events that are occurring in the north and western suburbs at the moment.’
“There’s obviously a need for them by certain persons.”
The St Albans seizure followed weekend gun licence checks carried out across suburbs including Greenvale, Meadow Heights, Campbellfield and Keilor East, in which 21 firearms and ammunition were seized.
Also on the weekend, Drug Taskforce and Special Operations Group officers arrested a man in Cairnlea, after executing search warrants which uncovered 10,000 ecstasy tablets.
Brimbank Inspector Paul Allinson said the “substantial haul” valued at around $50,000 was “indicative of organised crime of a fairly-high order”.
“The manner in which these illicit drugs are produced is anybody’s guess,” he said.
“You really are dicing with death taking them. It’s very risky.”
