3 knives seized in Wollongong and Nowra as part of Operation Ares
Monday, 07 July 2025 03:45:19 PM
PLEASE NOTE: Images have been posted to the Wollongong and South Coast PD Facebook pages.
Three knives and drugs were seized during two high visibility operations in the Illawarra and South Coast
Operation Ares is a high visibility operation where officers use handheld scanners – or electronic metal-detecting ‘wands’.
On Thursday 3 July 2025, officers attached to Wollongong Police District conducted a handheld scanning operation at Wollongong CBD, train station and surrounding shopping precinct between 10am and 10pm
The following results were achieved;
- 2 weapons were detected and seized
- 291 people were scanned
- 8 charges were laid, including custody of a knife in a public place, possess prohibited drug and shoplifting
On Thursday 3 July 2025, officers attached to Southern Region Operation Support Group and Police Transport Command conducted a handheld scanning operation in Nowra CBD and shopping precincts in Bomaderry CBD, train station and shopping precinct, between 8am and 4pm.
The following results were achieved;
- 1 weapon was detected and seized
- 84 people scanned
- 4 people searched
- 1 Firearms Prohibition Order person search
- 3 charges laid, including possess prohibited drug and disqualified driver
- 5 business inspections
Notable incidents include;
About 11.30am on Thursday 3 July 2025, police were patrolling the mall, in Crown Street, Wollongong when they stopped a 37-year-old man for the purpose of the operation. Police allegedly seized a knife in his pocket. He was issued with a court attendance notice for custody of a knife in a public place to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday 19 August 2025.
About 11.30am on Thursday 3 July 2025, police were patrolling the mall, in Crown Street, Wollongong when they stopped a 44-year-old man for the purposes of the operation. Police allegedly located a knife in his pocket. He was issued with a court attendance notice for custody of a knife in a public place to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday 5 August 2025.
About 12:05pm, officers were patrolling Wollongong CBD, when they stopped a 35-year-old for the purpose of the operation. Police searched the man and allegedly found a small zip lock bag of cannabis. He was issued with a court attendance notice for possess prohibited drug. He is due to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday 19 August 2025.
About 10.20am on Thursday 3 July, police were patrolling Kinghorne Street, Nowra when officers a stopped a 24-year-old man who was wanted for questioning. He was taken to Nowra Police Station and charged with assault, following an alleged incident on Sunday 15 June 2025 in Bomaderry. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday 29 July 2025.
The operation was run concurrently with the state-wide Operation Foil targeting locations known for violent offending, knife crime, possession of weapons and anti-social behaviour.