By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A man has faced court accused of possessing a cache of weapons including sawn-off air rifles as well as drugs at a Hallam factory.
Aman Preet Nota was arrested during a three-hour raid by the police’s anti-bikie and crime gang Echo Taskforce of the Wedgewood Road premises’ residential area on 28 August.
Police told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 19 July that two of the weapons were respectively found by detectives in a gym bag under a treadmill and on top of a garage barbecue.
Elsewhere was an allegedly stolen bolt-action pistol found in a wall cavity, 22-magnum ammunition, seven capsicum sprays, five stashes of fireworks, six mobile-phone style Tasers and two flick knives.
Inside a box marked Chanel No.5 were several sheets of tablets, the court was told.
Other pharmaceutical and illicit pills including Ritalin and ecstasy, and a container of suspicious clear liquid were found throughout the building.
Nota, the sole occupier, told police during the raid – after he was cautioned – that he’d owned one of the air rifles since he was 16 years old and forgot it was still there, the court heard.
Police told the court the weapon had been stolen in 2014.
He allegedly told police during the raid that he’d owned another discovered firearm and ammunition for five years. Police told the court the rifle was stolen in 2013.
After the raid, Nota gave a no-comment interview.
His lawyer Esan Pilai indicated that Nota was likely to fight the charges, and requested time to hear Nota’s recorded responses during the raid.
The case was adjourned until 10 August.
