Police in northern New South Wales have charged a 49-year-old man following the discovery of a firearm, ammunition, weapons and suspected illegal drugs during a vehicle stop near Lismore.

According to NSW Police, the incident occurred shortly after midnight on Thursday, 5 November 2026, when officers from the Tweed/Byron Police District Proactive Crime Team were conducting patrols in the Goonellabah area.

During their patrol, officers noticed an unregistered vehicle parked in a car park on Wallerawang Drive. Police approached the vehicle and began speaking with the driver.

While interacting with the man, officers allegedly noticed a firearm inside the vehicle's cabin. They immediately arrested the driver and conducted a further search of the vehicle.

During the search, police allegedly located and seized a double-barrel shotgun, ammunition, a pocketknife, a slingshot and approximately 0.7 grams of methamphetamine.

The discovery prompted police to investigate several alleged offences involving firearm possession, prohibited weapons, drugs and vehicle registration.

The 49-year-old man was taken to Lismore Police Station, where he was formally charged with eight offences.

These included possessing an unauthorised firearm, possessing ammunition without the required licence or authority, possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit, carrying a knife in a public place and possessing a prohibited drug.

He was also charged with having goods in his personal custody suspected of being stolen, using an unregistered Class A motor vehicle on a road and failing to keep a firearm safely.

Police refused bail, and the man was scheduled to appear before Bail Division Court 1 on Thursday, 5 November 2026.

The incident highlights ongoing police efforts to identify and address alleged illegal possession of firearms and prohibited substances across regional New South Wales.

Unregistered vehicles and weapons offences remain important areas of enforcement for police, particularly during targeted patrols designed to identify potential criminal activity.

The investigation and court proceedings will determine the outcome of the allegations against the accused. All charges remain allegations unless proven in court.