FOUR firearms and ammunition were seized during a police operation targeting illegal hunting and trespass in the Oberon region during the October long weekend.
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The seizure occurred during Operation Ambush, a three-day proactive rural crime operation in various state forests surrounding Oberon, conducted by the Central Zone Rural Crime Prevention Team.
At 12.15am on Saturday, October 5, rural crime investigators were patrolling the Hume Pine plantation off Knapsack Road at Isabella, 40 kilometres southwest of Oberon, when they observed a spotlight within the pine area.
Police located and spoke with four occupants of a Toyota utility which appeared to be set up as a hunting vehicle, State Rural Crime Co-ordinator Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside said.
A search of the vehicle was conducted, during which police seized ammunition and four firearms which were allegedly located inside the vehicle, on the rear tray, and two hidden in a bush a short distance away.
A 20-year-old man's firearm licence was suspended pending an investigation.
Inquiries continue.
Operation Ambush involved a large number of rural patrols, property inspections, vehicle stops and vehicle searches during which police and DPI Game Hunting and Licensing Unit (GLU) officers interacted with campers and inspected numerous hunters who were fully compliant R-Licence holders.
Det Insp Whiteside said the operation was another positive outcome from Joint Strike Force Venari which was launched by the DPI GLU and NSW Police last month.
"This operation is another positive example of the Rural Crime Prevention Team and the Game Licensing Unit, planning, sharing information and intelligence, and working together under Joint Strike Force Venari to tackle rural crime related issues surrounding illegal hunting," he said.
Operation Ambush was conducted by rural crime investigators from the Rural Crime Prevention Team Central Zone, with assistance from the GLU, and officers from Chifley, Central West and Hawkesbury police districts.