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Police have arrested three men they allege are members of an illegal firearms supply syndicate.Credit:NSW Police

Detective acting Superintendent Stuart Cadden,commander of the criminal groups squad,said the syndicate was uncovered by police investigating a brazen daylight shooting outside a gym last year.

About 11.30am on November 29,a hail of bullets was fired from a stolen Mazda at four men as they approached the entrance to the World Gym at Prospect,and one was hit in the leg.

Nobody else was injured,but the bullets,aimed at an associate of the Alameddine crime clan,narrowly missed toddlers playing at the gym’s creche.

Detectives from State Crime Command’s criminal groups squad established Strike Force Parbery to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Bullet holes in the wall of the creche at the World Gym in Prospect following the November shooting.Credit:NSW Police

In January,Ibrahem Hamze,a senior member of the Hamzy family – bitter rivals of the Alameddines – was extradited from Queensland and charged with attempted murder over his alleged role in the shooting.

Hamze and three others,also charged over the alleged assassination attempt,remain before the courts.

Cadden said the investigations under Strike Force Parbery continued and police seized a number of firearms between March and April this year,including a .22 calibre pistol,a semi-automatic rifle and a shortened bolt-action rifle.

A semi-automatic rifle seized during investigations into the alleged syndicate.Credit:NSW Police

On Thursday morning,detectives assisted by the tactical operations unit arrested William Junior Hall,26,and Steve Mate,27,during co-ordinated predawn raids on properties in Austral,Whalan,Mount Druitt and Parramatta.

Officers from the Tactical Operations Squad assist with an arrest.Credit:NSW Police

Hall was taken to Liverpool police station where he was charged with a number of offences including unlawfully selling firearms,supplying an unregistered prohibited firearm and knowingly directing activities of a criminal group.

Hall did not apply for bail at Liverpool Local Court and it was formally refused.

Mate was charged at Mount Druitt police station with supplying a shortened firearm (non-pistol) and was refused bail at Mount Druitt Local Court.

Both men are due to return to court later this month.

About midday,detectives arrested a third man on the corner of Durham Road at Mount Druitt. He was taken to Mount Druitt police station where it is expected he will also be charged in connection with the syndicate.

“We are aware of additional men involved in the syndicate,” Cadden said,adding that “investigations are continuing and further arrests can be expected”.

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