Shootings spark raids

TWO men from Bankstown and East Hills were among 25 people charged after police searched 54 properties as part of a high-impact operation targeting firearm-related violence in Sydney’s south-west.
Operation Clampdown was established to investigate public place shootings across the South West Metropolitan Region in August and September 2020.
Since the beginning of August, there have been 12 shootings, including five in public places.
During the operation, police allegedly located 13 firearms including seven pistols, a homemade firearm, prohibited drugs, cash, an electronic stun device, knives, knuckle dusters, ammunition, a ballistic vest, 380 false credit cards, 101 mobile phones, and OMCG colours.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott says Operation Clampdown has sent an unequivocal message to the perpetrators of this violence that no-one is above the law.
He says their reckless actions show a flagrant disregard for community safety and the Government will not tolerate that behaviour.
Among those charged was a 23-year-old man, who was arrested during a search warrant at a Bankstown home conducted by Campsie detectives and charged with shoot with intent to murder, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and breach of bail.
Police will allege in court that the man is one of a group involved in the shooting of a 29-year-old man at Lakemba at Monday, August 31.
He was refused bail until his next court appearance in November.
During a separate FPO search, a 39-year-old man was arrested after weapons and drugs were allegedly located at a home on Blair Avenue, East Hills.
He was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug, two counts of possess prescribed restricted substance, supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), supply prohibited drug (small quantity), possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order and goods in custody suspected stolen.