Gel blaster seized at Premer

A firearms prohibition order compliance check by NSW Police led to the seizure of a gel blaster rifle in Premer.

On Saturday, January 4, 2025, police conducted a firearms prohibition order compliance check on a 21-year-old man at a house in Premer, south of Gunnedah. Police seized a gel blaster rifle, a sling shot, a quantity of ammunition and a small quantity of what police believe to be prohibited drugs. Police were earlier this week making further inquiries in relation to the seized items.

Gel blasters, which are classified as an air gun and defined as a firearm, are illegal in NSW. As such, people cannot apply for a permit to acquire a gel blaster and they are unable to be registered in NSW.

The compliance check formed part of a high-visibility operation under Operation Surge, which is part of Operational Regional Mongoose – formed to target young offenders who commit break and enter offences and steal motor vehicles.

As part of Operation Surge, officers attached to Oxley Police District arrested and charged two people, conducted nine person searches, five vehicle searches, 30 bail compliance checks, 8 apprehended domestic violence order checks, five firearm prohibition searches and seven business inspections.

Regional road fatalities

New South Wales recorded a total of 340 road deaths in 2024 – the same number of people lost in 2023.

Speed remains the biggest killer on NSW roads. In 2024, 136 people died in crashes where speed was a factor.

In 2024, 234 people died on regional roads which was down 2 per cent on the previous year.

Fatigue remains a stubborn problem, with 77 fatalities attributed to driver tiredness last year.

Alcohol and drugs are also preventable issues that factor in too many deaths. However, in the first nine months of last year, the preliminary figures show a decrease from 2023 of 12 per cent for alcohol and 20 per cent for drugs.

Deaths of bicycle riders have hit the equal lowest level in the state’s history since detailed records began in 1960, with five cyclists dying in 2024, and pedestrian deaths are lower than in previous years.

Sadly, there has been a concerning rise in deaths of motorcyclists with 67 deaths, an increase of 34 per cent when compared to 2023 figures.