AK47 among arsenal seized in raids

AN AK-47 assault rifle, a high-calibre sniper rifle and machine guns are among a large cache of weapons uncovered by police in a sting operation culminating in a series of Sydney raids.
The Russian-designed Kalashnikov military rifle is the first recovered by New South Wales police.
Two men have been arrested after the year-long operation targeting the illegal supply of military-style firearms and other weapons, which culminated in raids yesterday and today.
Undercover officers bought a range of illegal guns, including the AK-47, over a series of months from a targeted supplier.
Also recovered were a .50 calibre heavy sniper rifle, a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle, a WWII Austin Mark 1 machine gun and a number of sub-machine guns.
Detectives raided a home in Noble Street, Concord, today seizing 3600 rounds of 7.62 calibre ammunition.
A 62-year-old man was arrested at the residence and is being questioned at Burwood police station.
In a similar raid yesterday, in Powder Works Road, Elanora Heights, officers seized a large cache of weapons.
It included a 22 Magnum revolver, a 12-gauge shotgun, a .410 calibre shotgun and ammunition, two .22 calibre rifles, two Lee Enfield .303 bolt-action rifles, a M6 Scout dual calibre shotgun/rifle, a .270 calibre bolt-action rifle, a .45 calibre muzzle loading rifle, a 22-250 calibre bolt-action rifle and a Martini Action rifle.
Also in the haul were two air rifles, a crossbow, a metal-framed slingshot, ammunition and a silencer.
A 59-year-old man arrested at the property has been charged with multiple weapons offences including 23 counts of possessing unregistered firearms.
He was granted bail to appear before Manly Local Court on Thursday.
Firearms and Organised Crime Squad Commander Arthur Katsogiannis hailed the work of police in the operation.
"Gun crime is a blight upon our society and responsible for an array of crimes,'' Detective Superintendent Katsogiannis said.
"The seizure of these firearms will prevent them being used in the commission of any offence or in taking a human life.
"It will help make the streets of NSW safer for our community.''
The raids coincided with the State Government's gun amnesty, which runs until May 31, urging people to hand in illegal guns to local police stations.