A STATEWIDE manhunt is underway for a NSW Police civilian employee who is suspected of taking police weaponry and having links to organised crime.
Alan James Cumberland has been a senior armourer working with firearms at the NSW Police Force centre in Surry Hills, in inner Sydney.
A raid on his Berkeley Vale home yesterday allegedly uncovered firearms that investigators believe were misappropriated from the Surry Hills facility.
Other items allegedly seized from Mr Cumberland's Central Coast property include firearms parts, ammunition of various calibres, machining equipment and prohibited weapons.
Firearms and Organised Crime Squad Commander Ken Finch said Mr Cumberland emerged as a person of interest in a long-running investigation.
"We've been conducting an investigation into organised crime which involves, amongst other things, possession, use or supply of firearms," he told reporters today.
"He is and was aware that we were intending to execute a search warrant (yesterday), however he has not made contact for some time and of course we're extremely concerned for his welfare and his family are very concerned."
Detective Superintendent Finch said Mr Cumberland spoke with his wife late yesterday but no one in the family had heard from him since.
It's possible he has a gun with him, police said.
Detectives were investigating whether the man may have been involved in supplying guns to criminals, and an audit was still underway to determine just how many guns he had stored at his home, Det Supt Finch said.
"There are a number of parts and some complete weapons so it's difficult to say with any precision at the moment," he said, adding it was possible Mr Cumberland had been making or altering weapons.
"He was employed as a senior armourer so certainly that would be within his capability."
Police believe the case is linked to one in which a father and son were charged on Thursday after a machine gun, a silencer and $20,000 in cash were seized in police raids at Bonnells Bay south of Newcastle and at Lalor Park in western Sydney.
"Our investigation so far would suggest that there has been a degree of organisation with this syndicate," Det Supt Finch said.
The son, 33, was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today.
His 60-year-old father is due to appear in Blacktown Local Court on May 9.
AAP
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