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Knives, drugs and cash seized under Operation Foil 2025

Sunday, 13 April 2025 06:11:05 AM

Police have seized knives, prohibited drugs and cash during a major operation targeting knife crime across NSW.

Operation Foil is a high visibility statewide operation led by officers attached to North West Metropolitan Region targeting violent offenders, knife crime and the possession of weapons in public places.

The operation ran from 1pm Thursday 10 April 2025 to 1am yesterday (Saturday 12 April 2025) and saw over 400 officers deployed across metropolitan and regional areas of NSW.

During the operation police seized 61 weapons including machetes, switchblades and a firearm, laid 250 charges, executed 45 arrest warrants and made 125 drug detections.

Police also issued 550 traffic infringements, 230 transport infringements and conducted 2650 random breath tests.

Arrests of note include:

  • On Thursday 10 April 2025, officers attached to Southern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) were patrolling on Alanbar Street, Karabar. During the patrol police attempted to speak to a teenage boy; however, when they approached, he allegedly attempted to flee from officers. Police continued to follow before initiating a foot pursuit after he allegedly began running through backyards and threw a machete over a fence. Police arrested the teenager while he was allegedly climbing a fence and following the arrest officers also located and seized a 40cm long machete nearby. The teenage boy – aged 17 – was taken to Queanbeyan Police Station where he was charged with enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, custody of knife in public place and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. The teen was refused bail and appeared before children’s court on Friday 11 April 2025, where he was further refused bail to appear before the same court on Monday 14 April 2025.

  • About 3.10pm Thursday 10 April 2025, officers attached to Leichhardt Police Area Command were patrolling the Lilyfield area when they located a motorcycle with black tape covering the licence plate travelling on Lilyfield Road. Police directed the rider to stop; however, when police approached the motorcycle, the rider attempted to flee the scene but failed. The rider – a 26-year-old man – was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station. He was charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, not stop vehicle when directed to do so and use class A vehicle displaying misleading number plate. The man was refused bail and appeared before Downing Centre Local Court on Friday 11 April 2025, where he was further refused bail to appear before the same court on Thursday 17 April 2025.

  • About 3.45pm Thursday 10 April 2025, officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were patrolling the Bondi Junction Railway Station when they located a man acting suspiciously. Police spoke and searched the 37-year-old man during which they allegedly located two knives, a small amount of methamphetamine and two opal cards believed to have been stolen. The 37-year-old was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug, custody of knife in public places, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit and goods in personal custody suspected being stolen. The man was refused bail and appeared before Waverley Local Court on Friday 11 April 2025, where he was granted conditional bail to appear before the same court on Wednesday 28 May 2025.

  • About 7.45pm on Friday 11 April 2025, police were patrolling the Belvoir Steet, Surry Hills area, when they located two men acting suspiciously in a carpark. Officers attached to Surry Hills Police Area Command spoke to the men before leaving the scene. A short time later police sighted one of the men – aged 41 – acting suspicious again before police stopped and searched him. During the search officers allegedly located a hacksaw blade, a hammer and house breaking tools. Nearby police also located a meat cleaver believed to have been placed by the 41-year-old man before the search. He was arrested and taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with custody of knife in public place and possess housebreaking implements. The man was refused bail and appeared before Downing Centre Local Court the same day where he was further refused bail to appear before the same court on Friday 23 May 2025.

  • About 6pm on Friday 11 April 2025, officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were patrolling Curlewis Street, Bondi, when they stopped a Ford utility. During the stop police searched the vehicle and located 10 grams of cocaine in 14 small bags and $1,550 cash. The driver and passenger – both 18-year-old men – were arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station. They were both charged with deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000 and supply prohibited drug. The driver was also charged with hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. They were both granted conditional bail to appear before Waverley Local Court on Tuesday 6 May 2025.

  • About 8.40pm Thursday (10 April 2025), police were called to the intersection of Athol Street and Denning Street, South Coogee, following reports of a robbery. Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command arrived and were told a food delivery rider was approached by a teen armed with a knife before the teen threatened the man and stole the rider’s Honda scooter crashing into nearby car before leaving the scene. A short time later police located the teen riding on Malabar Road; however, lost sight of the teen after they allegedly rode through a nearby park. Shortly after police were called to a home on Chicago Avenue, Maroubra, following reports a teenager had allegedly jumped a fence damaging flowerpots. Police arrived and with assistance from PolAir and Dog Squad arrested the teen – 15-year-old boy – on New Orleans Crescent. During the arrest police located two knives on the teen before taking him to Maroubra Police Station. He was charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner and not give particulars to owner of damaged property. The teen was refused bail to appear before a children’s court yesterday (Saturday 12 April 2025).

  • About 11pm on Thursday 10 April 2025, police were called to a bus stop on West Parade, West Ryde, following reports of an armed robbery. Officers attached to Ryde Police Area Command arrived and were told a teenager allegedly wearing a balaclava had stolen a man’s phone before threatening him with a knife and leaving the scene. Following inquiries, police arrested a 17-year-old boy at Eastwood Train Station a short time later. During the arrest police located the allegedly stolen phone and knife on the teen before taking him to Gladesville Police Station. He was charged with armed with intent to commit indictable offence, steal from the person value less than $2,000 and possess prohibited weapon without permit. The teen was granted conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on Monday 5 May 2025.

  • About 3.15pm on Friday 11 April 2025, police were patrolling Scarborough Street, Woolgoolga, when they located a man acting suspicious. Officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Police District spoke to the man – aged 23 – before searching him. During the search police located and seized a knife and 10 grams of cannabis. The man was arrested and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was charged with custody of knife in public place and possess prohibited drug. He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court yesterday (Saturday 12 April 2025).

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.