A man from Sydney’s eastern suburbs is facing charges after allegedly posing as an Australian Federal Police (AFP) officer and being discovered with several banned replica weapons.
The situation unfolded on September 23 when a concerned citizen handed over an AFP badge and identification to the Bondi Police Station, prompting an investigation.
Upon examination, authorities found a small amount of cocaine hidden behind the identification card, which initiated further scrutiny.
Subsequent inquiries led officers to a 50-year-old resident of Double Bay.
Police executed a search warrant at the man’s residence yesterday, uncovering hats and t-shirts emblazoned with AFP logos, four replica firearms, 11 gel blasters, and what are believed to be fake badges and identification from various law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, authorities allegedly confiscated significant quantities of steroids and 14 grams of cocaine.
“Falsely representing yourself as any kind of law enforcement or Commonwealth official poses a genuine danger to public safety,” AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty said.
“This type of behaviour is extremely concerning, and if anyone has information about the fraudulent use of police identification, please contact your local police station. We thank the member of the public who handed in the badge and identification.”
The man was arrested and charged with possessing prohibited firearms, supplying an indictable amount of a prohibited drug and impersonating a Commonwealth public official.
He faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison and is set to face Parramatta court today.
