Police have arrested a man after he was allegedly discovered sleeping in a vehicle near a South Coast school while in possession of a loaded homemade firearm, a machete, ammunition and illicit drugs.
Public tip-off leads to arrest near Nowra East Public School
Officers were alerted to the situation by members of the public who reported a man sleeping in a car on Journal Street in Nowra, not far from Nowra East Public School. Police arrived at the scene around 7.40am on Monday, February 9, where they allegedly found the 45-year-old man with a privately manufactured firearm.
Multiple charges laid following seizure of weapons and drugs
A spokesperson for NSW Police confirmed that officers seized a homemade firearm, ammunition, a machete, methamphetamine and cannabis from within the vehicle. The man was subsequently arrested and charged with eight separate offences.
The charges include:
- Possessing a loaded firearm in a public place
- Possessing an unauthorised firearm
- Possessing ammunition without a permit
- Goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen
- Custody of a knife in a school
- Possessing illicit drugs (two counts)
- Possessing or attempting to prescribe a restricted substance
The accused was refused bail and appeared in Bail Division Court on Tuesday, February 10. This incident has raised concerns about community safety, particularly given the proximity to a local educational institution.
The arrest highlights ongoing police efforts to address weapons and drug offences in the region, with authorities relying on community cooperation through tip-offs to identify potential threats. The case continues to develop as legal proceedings progress through the court system.
