A man accused of supplying illegal firearms across Sydney has been arrested after police allegedly caught him selling a prohibited semi-automatic handgun during a carefully planned undercover operation targeting the city’s black market weapons trade.

Issam Ajaj, 31, appeared before Liverpool Local Court after detectives charged him with multiple firearms, ammunition and drug offences following an investigation led by NSW Police’s Taskforce Falcon.

Police allege Ajaj unknowingly sold a loaded .45 calibre Colt 1911 semi-automatic pistol to a covert police witness for $25,000 during a meeting in Lurnea in Sydney’s south-west on May 15.

The alleged transaction formed the centrepiece of a months-long investigation into what detectives believe was an illegal firearms supply operation servicing Sydney’s organised criminal underworld.

According to court documents, investigators from Strike Force Dameer — established under Taskforce Falcon in February — suspected Ajaj of operating within the illicit firearms market and obtained approval to conduct a controlled operation on May 8.

The undercover investigation allegedly relied on encrypted communications through the messaging application Threema, where police say Ajaj used the nickname “The Juice“.

Investigators allege the police witness initiated contact asking whether a handgun remained available for purchase before negotiations eventually settled on a price of $25,000.

Authorities say the pair agreed to meet in Weir Crescent, Lurnea, shortly after 1.30pm on May 15.

Police surveillance teams allegedly watched Ajaj leave his nearby home carrying a backpack before walking through a laneway towards the agreed meeting point.

Rather than carrying the firearm directly, investigators allege Ajaj entered the undercover vehicle, accepted the pre-recorded cash and directed the buyer towards a hidden plastic bag.

According to police, Ajaj allegedly told the undercover operative:

“Do you see that bag… It’s right there.”

The officer then allegedly recovered the concealed package, which investigators say contained a loaded Colt 1911 pistol wrapped inside a box.

Roughly 20 minutes later, police allege Ajaj sent another encrypted message advising that the first round inside the magazine was a dummy or training round.

Firearms specialists subsequently examined the weapon and allegedly identified it as a prohibited operational .45 calibre self-loading pistol fitted with a 10-round magazine.

Police allege the firearm was capable of being discharged and therefore constituted a prohibited weapon under NSW firearms legislation.

The investigation did not end with the alleged undercover purchase.

Several weeks later, officers attached to the Raptor Squad Highway Patrol stopped Ajaj while he was driving a Toyota Hilux.

Police allegedly located two mobile phones and several hundred dollars in cash inside the vehicle before placing him under arrest.

Search warrants were then executed at his western Sydney residence.

During those searches, investigators allege they discovered:

• 548 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value approaching $192,000;
• 68 rounds of ammunition;
• approximately $5,000 in cash located inside a handbag;
• a suspected encrypted Google Pixel mobile phone; and
• additional electronic devices believed to be relevant to the investigation.

Police also allege a child living at the property had been exposed to prohibited drugs, resulting in an additional charge relating to child exposure offences.

Ajaj has now been charged with numerous offences including alleged supply of a prohibited firearm, firearms and ammunition offences, supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, dealing with the proceeds of crime and offences relating to exposing a child to drugs.

He was refused bail when he appeared before Liverpool Local Court and is expected to return to court in September.

The allegations have not been tested in court.

Taskforce Falcon has become one of NSW Police’s principal operations targeting organised criminal groups involved in shootings, firearm trafficking, drug supply and other forms of serious organised crime.

Established within the State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad, the taskforce coordinates specialist detectives, intelligence analysts and tactical police units to investigate networks believed to be responsible for supplying illegal firearms throughout metropolitan Sydney.

In recent years, police have repeatedly warned that illegally imported and trafficked firearms continue to fuel gang violence across New South Wales.

Unlike licensed firearms, black market weapons are frequently unregistered, making them difficult for investigators to trace after being used in violent offences.

Authorities have consistently argued that disrupting firearm suppliers can have a greater long-term impact than arresting individual offenders involved in isolated shootings because each seized weapon may otherwise circulate among multiple criminal groups.

Illegal handguns are particularly sought after because of their concealability and their alleged use in targeted attacks linked to organised crime.

Taskforce Falcon has conducted numerous operations during 2026 targeting alleged firearm traffickers, organised criminal networks and individuals suspected of facilitating violent offending throughout Sydney.

Investigators frequently rely on covert surveillance, controlled purchases, encrypted communication monitoring where legally authorised, forensic examination and intelligence gathered across multiple police commands to build cases involving illicit firearms trafficking.

The use of encrypted messaging platforms has become an increasingly common feature of organised crime investigations.

Applications offering end-to-end encryption are widely used for legitimate privacy purposes, but police say organised criminal groups also increasingly rely on such services to arrange drug transactions, firearm sales and other illicit activities while attempting to avoid detection.

Law enforcement agencies have responded by expanding specialist cyber capabilities alongside traditional undercover operations.

Under NSW law, offences involving prohibited firearms attract severe maximum penalties, reflecting the significant public safety risks associated with illegal weapons entering the community.

Commercial-scale drug trafficking allegations similarly carry substantial custodial penalties if proven.

As with all criminal proceedings, the charges against Ajaj remain allegations.

The prosecution will be required to prove each element of the offences beyond reasonable doubt should the matter proceed to trial.

Police say investigations into alleged organised criminal activity and illegal firearms trafficking continue.