A man will remain behind bars after police uncovered a suburban safehouse containing a dangerous stash of grenades and assault rifles.
Onnell Esho, 26, and a woman, also 26, were arrested on Tuesday following a raid on a home in Glenfield in southwest Sydney, with police allegedly uncovering a safehouse full of weapons, drugs, and cash.
The alleged $3 million drug stash included 6kg of cocaine, a kilogram each of methylamphetamine and ketamine, 15kg of cannabis, 1.1kg of heroin and 107g of MDMA.
The alleged weapons cache found at the scene included six grenades, three semi-automatic assault rifles, four shot guns, a pistol, firearm parts and more than 1000 rounds of ammunition. Detectives additionally seized electronics and $9000 in cash.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Cook on Wednesday alleged the grenades and tactical rifles were stashed for organised-crime-related shootings.
''We often seize large amounts of drugs, but this type of weaponry is very concerning to us,'' he said.
The suspected army issue grenades were ''exceptionally dangerous weapons'', he said.
''If they were set off, the damage that they could cause is entirely indiscriminate in terms of proximity,'' he said.
''We're seeing far more contract criminals being tasked and providing services to a larger, serious, and organised crime network that's operating not just in NSW, but now globally,'' he said.
Esho was charged with 27 offences, including firearms possession, drug supply and proceeds of crime charges.
He did not apply for bail at Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old woman was charged with conducting activity on a drugs premises.
She was bailed to appear at Campbelltown Local Court on August 27.
Esho will next appear before the local court on September 23.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley praised the efforts of police and said the bust should put wrongdoers on notice.
''It's awful to think what could have happened if police hadn't intervened when they did,'' Ms Catley said.
''To anyone thinking of taking part in this alleged vicious criminality, our message is be prepared to spend a long time in a small cell.''
