AN INVERELL man faces up to 20 years behind bars after more than 100kg of what detectives allege is cannabis as well as guns were uncovered in a police raid.
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Paul Raymond Dowling was refused release in an out-of-sessions bail hearing in Inverell Local Court on Friday morning on 14 gun and drug-related charges.
The 56-year-old lodged a bid for bail despite the “significant seizure” after Armidale detectives raided a Stannifer property, near Tingha, on Thursday morning.
He was denied release by the court after he was deemed an unacceptable risk of committing a further serious offence, according to court documents.
Detectives will allege the man was in possession of more than 100kg of cannabis leaf, cannabis plants, a large sum of cash, three firearms including two .22-calibre rifles and an air rifle as well as a large amount of ammunition.
Dowling was not required to enter pleas to the charges including large commercial supply of cannabis – a charge that carries a maximum of 20 imprisonment, if found guilty.
He’s also charged with cultivating and possessing drugs, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, three counts of possessing an unregistered firearm, three counts of possessing an unauthorised firearm, three counts of not keeping the firearms safely and possessing ammunition.
The raid was the culmination of investigations by Armidale detectives, New England Inspector Roger Best told The Leader.
“This is a significant seizure of what police allege is cannabis leaf and plants,” he said.
Detectives will allege more than 100kg of the drug was seized at the property and was destined for the street.
- New England Inspector Roger Best
“Detectives will allege more than 100kg of the drug was seized at the property and was destined for the street.
“Three unregistered firearms have also been removed from our community, and we know that guns and drugs are a dangerous combination and I commend detectives who worked on this long-running investigation.”
Dowling will spend the weekend in custody before fronting court again next week. Investigations into the raid continue and detectives have not ruled out further charges or arrests.