Operation Halo: Charges laid after three-day rail corridor blitz between Sydney and Newcastle

newy.com.au – NSW Police have charged 24 people after a three-day Operation Halo blitz on the Sydney-to-Newcastle rail corridor, with officers working in Newcastle, Gosford and Sydney from Thursday 5 February 2026 to Saturday 7 February 2026.

Police said the operation targeted anti-social behaviour, criminal activity and people wanted on warrants around the public transport network, as authorities continue to focus on knife detections and other offending in busy commuter areas.

The Police Transport Command’s North Central team led the operation, drawing on resources from Metropolitan Sydney and the Northern Region, and was supported by local officers at key locations across the three centres.

NSW Police said 961 people were scanned for knives during the operation, with two knives seized, while 17 drug detections were made and seven Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance checks were carried out.

In one incident, officers attended a home on Saunders Street at Pyrmont about 7.05am on Thursday 5 February for an FPO compliance search, where police alleged they located methamphetamine and later seized 22 g of the drug, electronics, drug paraphernalia and an extendable baton after a crime scene warrant was executed.

Police said a 42-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man were arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station, with the man charged with offences including supply prohibited drug and prohibited weapon matters and refused bail to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday 20 February, while the woman was granted conditional bail to appear on Wednesday 25 February.

About 10.40am the same day, officers attended a home on Faunce Street, Gosford, for another FPO compliance search, where police alleged they seized a walking stick with a concealed knife, a spear gun, a metal baton and a compound bow and arrows, and charged a 33-year-old man with prohibited weapon offences.

In Newcastle West about 3pm on Friday 6 February, police conducting knife scanning spoke with a man to check on his welfare and later arrested a 35-year-old after allegedly identifying an outstanding warrant for a knife offence, while another man, 23, was issued a court attendance notice after police allegedly seized a foldable box cutter during scanning outside a shopping centre.

Police said the 23-year-old is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 26 March, and that “similar operations will continue” to maintain safety for commuters.