The 21-year-old man, who has links to Armidale but now lives in Newcastle, was arrested by investigators from Strike Force Jinglemoney on Tuesday.

The operation was launched last year by New England detectives in conjunction with police from the State Crime Command to investigate firearms offences in the Armidale area.

Detectives allege the 21-year-old man supplied a sawn-off shotgun as well as ammunition, last year.

Police allege the firearm was stolen from an Armidale property, New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy told The Leader.

“The strike force was established in June, 2016, targeting firearms offences and property-related crime in the Armidale area,” she said.

“As part of the investigation, in August, last year, police executed a search warrant at a Kennedy St, Armidale, address and officers recovered a sawn-off double-barrel shotgun and some ammunition.”

The firearm and ammunition was seized and underwent forensic examination at a specialist police laboratory, Detective Inspector Joy said.

“A number of inquiries have taken place, including forensic examination of the firearm and as a result of that, investigators from Strike Force Jinglemoney travelled to Newcastle,” she said.

“Detectives interviewed a 21-year-old man and he was charged with two offences and granted conditional bail to appear in Armidale Local Court in May.”

The man is facing one count of supplying a stolen firearm and one count of supplying ammunition without a licence.

“It is a very serious allegation, as are all firearm-related offences,” Detective Inspector Joy said.

“It’s alleged that that firearm was originally stolen during a break-and-enter at a property in Armidale in 2016.”

Investigations are ongoing. A 32-year-old Armidale man was charged last year with a string of offences.