NSW Police say six live hand grenades, eight firearms and drugs estimated to be worth about $3 million have been seized during coordinated searches in Sydney’s south-west.
The most serious discoveries were made at a Glenfield home on Tuesday morning, where detectives carrying out a firearm prohibition order compliance check allegedly found military-style weapons, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, illicit drugs and cash.
A 26-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were arrested at the property. Police allege the address was being used as a safe house connected to serious and organised crime.
Grenades and restricted firearms seized
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Cook said officers found six live hand grenades and eight firearms at the Glenfield address. The haul allegedly included three high-powered tactical assault rifles of types restricted to police and military use in Australia.
Police said the grenades had been stored in a way intended to prevent an accidental detonation. However, Assistant Commissioner Cook warned that the weapons remained exceptionally dangerous and could cause indiscriminate damage to anyone nearby.
He said investigators believed the grenades were types used by the Australian Army or the United States military. Ballistics specialists and law-enforcement partners in other jurisdictions are now trying to establish where the grenades and assault rifles came from and how they entered the alleged criminal network.
Assistant Commissioner Cook said the seizure was significantly different from the weapons and drugs police had encountered in other operations over the past year. He estimated that the combined detonation of the grenades could almost demolish the building.
Drugs valued at about $3 million
Detectives also allegedly located 15 kilograms of cannabis and six kilograms of cocaine at the Glenfield home. Police placed the potential street value of the drugs at approximately $3 million.
The 26-year-old man was charged with 27 offences, including allegations relating to possession of multiple unregistered firearms without a licence or permit and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime. He was refused bail ahead of a scheduled court appearance on Wednesday.
The woman was charged with assisting in the operation of a drug premises. She was granted bail and is due to appear before a court on August 27.
Police allege the pair acted as “contract criminals”, providing services such as maintaining a safe house or storing and supplying drugs for broader organised-crime groups. The allegations against all people charged have not been tested in court.
Further arrests after three searches
The searches formed part of Taskforce Falcon’s continuing investigation into serious and organised crime. Officers executed three searches across south-west Sydney during Tuesday’s operation.
At a Casula property, police said they seized cash and several prohibited weapons, including compound bows, a gel blaster, knuckledusters, a laser pointer and an extendable baton. Officers also allegedly uncovered a clandestine laboratory used to manufacture peptides and steroids. A 40-year-old man was charged following that search.
In Liverpool, detectives allegedly found 500 grams of cocaine, rifle and pistol ammunition, cash and counterfeit currency. A 31-year-old man was arrested and charged.
Assistant Commissioner Cook said organised crime could reach into a wide range of industries and commodities, including alcohol, gambling, the sex industry, medical products and peptides. Police described the operation as part of their response to an escalation in organised-crime activity over the past 12 months.
Investigation into weapon origins continues
The discovery of live grenades and restricted assault rifles has placed added focus on the supply routes used to move military-grade weapons into criminal hands. Investigators will examine the seized items for identifying marks, forensic evidence and links to other offences.
Police said Taskforce Falcon would continue working with interstate and international partners as inquiries progress. Further charges have not been ruled out.
Source: NSW Police information reported by ABC News on July 29, 2026.
