Gun appears three years after ring smashed

Three years after police smashed an international gun racket between Germany and Australia, one of the guns has allegedly turned up in a box trailer.

A Glock pistol found in an Aladdin's cave of drugs and firearms this month allegedly came from an imported guns cache that has featured in high-profile Sydney crimes.

More than 200 Glock pistols were illegally funnelled to Australia from Germany before Strike Force Maxworthy smashed the firearms racket in 2012.

The pistols have popped up in high-profile crimes, including the shooting of notorious criminal Bassam Hamzy's aunt in March 2013.

Maha Hamze was shot in the legs through the front door of her western Sydney home with a Glock that was later discovered during a raid by police investigating a bungled cash-in-transit van robbery in 2013.

Police have also uncovered the pistols at homes in Wagga Wagga in country NSW and during raids in Bankstown, Greystanes and Westmead.

Only 12 of the pistols that reached Australian shores have been recovered.

Last week, drug squad investigators found the latest piece of the global firearms puzzle after a raid on a box trailer at a Edensor Park.

Officers uncovered a Uzi submachine gun, an assault rifle, four handguns, two shotguns and a range of ammunition.

Police will allege one handgun was a Glock pistol that had been illegally imported as part of the firearms racket several years ago.

Authorities will try to trace how the pistol made its way from Europe allegedly into the possession of Sydney man To Hoai Thach.

Thach is not charged in relation to the firearms ring.

There was also allegedly more than $20 million worth of drugs - including 14.7 kilograms of heroin and 6.2 kilograms of ecstasy tablets - found in the box trailer and a car.

Thach, 27, appeared in Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday on 20 charges, including large commercial drug supply.

He did not apply for bail and the case was adjourned to March 11.


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Source: AAP


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