Two arrests from Glenfield after police seize more than 1000 rounds of ammunition and $3 million worth of drugs

Grenades, military-grade weapons, more than 1000 rounds of ammunition and $3 million worth of drugs were uncovered in an alleged Sydney safehouse when the state’s anti-gang detectives raided the suburban property on Tuesday, raising renewed concerns about the spread of firearms in the city months after gun reforms passed the parliament.

Taskforce Falcon detectives raided the Glenfield property on Tuesday morning, where they discovered six grenades, three semi-automatic weapons, four shotguns and a pistol. Six kilograms of cocaine, 15 kilograms of cannabis, 1.1 kilograms of heroin, 107 grams of MDMA, a kilogram of ketamine and $9000 in cash were also seized.

A 26-year-old man, dressed in black track pants and T-shirt, was led from the property in handcuffs, clutching a gold vape in his hand, before being taken to Campbelltown Police Station in a police truck.

He was charged with a range of offences, including possessing a dangerous weapon with intent to injure, possessing more than three unregistered firearms without a licence, three counts of supplying a drug greater than a commercial quantity, and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime. The man was refused bail to appear at Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday.

A 26-year-old woman, led from the alleged safehouse by a plain-clothed police officer, was charged with organising, conducting and assisting at a drug premises, and was bailed ahead of a court appearance in Campbelltown next month.

Police will allege the pair are contract criminals who have provided services, including the use of their property to stow weapons and drugs, for a range of underworld groups.

Assistant Commissioner Scott Cook said the discovery of grenades and military-grade weapons was of particular concern. He suggested that Tuesday’s seizure was an example of “proactive [police] work” preventing a violent crime.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said it was “awful to think what could have happened” if detectives failed to seize the weapons from the alleged safehouse.

“We do not want to see these weapons in our communities, and thanks to the hard work of police, they are now out of the hands of criminals,” Catley said.

Police were continuing to investigate the source of the weapons on Wednesday. Cook said the grenades seized are the same class as those used in the Australian and US armies, and would’ve “almost demolished” the suburban home if detonated.

The state government rushed through gun reforms on Christmas Eve last year, less than two weeks after gunmen shot dead 15 people celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach.

The new laws implemented new limits on the number of firearms an individual can own – four, or 10 for farmers and sporting shooters – and also sought to strengthen firearms licence checks and oversight mechanisms.

Taskforce Falcon was launched by NSW Police in May last year to crush simmering gangland conflicts across the city’s streets. It has been responsible for 683 arrests, leading to more than 1700 charges.

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