- Police crack down on suspected illegal knife sellers
- Agents seized 300 knives, swords and pocket knives.
- The arrests came after an alleged street fight last year.
Police have seized a consignment of weapons, including switchblades, zombie knives and daggers, which were allegedly being sold openly at Paddy’s Market in Sydney’s Haymarket district.
A team of task force officers entered the Market City building on Thursday to arrest a man who had a large assortment of knives and swords in display cases at a stand.
Caught off guard while eating a snack, trader Zhi Wei Yuan briefly fought with police as they attempted to handcuff him while holding a kebab or sandwich that fell to the ground when he was arrested.
Police seized more than 300 prohibited weapons, including sheathed knives, butterfly knives, swords and concealed blades, at the post and at homes in Sydney’s west and north-west.
A second man was arrested in Haymarket and taken into custody, all of the seizures stemming from a street incident four months ago in the central suburb of Waterloo.
In March 2024, South Sydney Police Area Command established Strike Force Dudi to investigate a fight involving several men on Elizabeth Street.
Several people have since been charged and remain before the courts.
During investigations, Strike Force Dudi investigators identified that prohibited weapons were allegedly being sold at businesses in Haymarket.
Haymarket street trader Zhi Wei Yuan was arrested on Thursday while he was having lunch. The 60-year-old was later charged with knife-related offences over the multiple blades on sale at his stall.
As police try to handcuff Mr Yuan, his kebab or sandwich falls to the ground before he is led away and charged to appear at Downing Central Court on Friday.
Police arrested Jianfeng Gong, 45, and took him to Day Street station, where he was denied bail and charged with six weapons-related offences.
As well as charging the two men in Haymarket, police raided houses in Amos Street, Westmead and Shepherd Street, Cherrybrook.
Jianfeng Gong, 45, and Zhi Wei Yuan, 60, were each charged with six offences and refused bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.
Charges include possession or use of prohibited weapon without permit, sale of prohibited weapon to a person without permit, and dealer who buys/sells/manufactures a prohibited weapon without permit.
Investigations into Strike Force Dudi continue.
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