Exotic birds, turtles, gliders seized as smuggling sting leads to gun arrest

A Hispaniolan Amazon bird, dozens of firearms and native animals like sugar gliders were seized at the Williamtown property on August 20. Pictures by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, NSW Police and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) were seized at the Williamtown property. Picture by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Sugar gliders. Picture by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

A Hispaniolan Amazon (Amazona ventralis) bird was seized at the Williamtown property. Picture by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) were seized at the Williamtown property. Picture by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Dozens of firearms were seized by police in a raid at Williamtown earlier in August. Picture by NSW Police

Dozens of firearms were seized by police in a raid at Williamtown earlier in August. Picture by NSW Police

Dozens of firearms were seized by police in a raid at Williamtown earlier in August. Picture by NSW Police

Cash was seized by police in a raid at Williamtown earlier in August. Picture by NSW Police

Ammunition was seized by police in a raid at Williamtown earlier in August. Picture by NSW Police

Dozens of firearms were seized by police in a raid at Williamtown earlier in August. Picture by NSW Police

EXOTIC animals and native wildlife have been seized from a Williamtown property after a raid last week led to police uncovering a cache of guns.

Federal environmental officers discovered 21 birds, turtles and imported geckos, as well as illegally-kept sugar gliders, green tree frogs and an Australian gecko at the Nelson Bay Road home.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has been investigating the alleged import and possession of exotic birds in a sting codenamed Operation Carmen.

An investigation was launched in October 2023 after information about exotic birds was reported through the authority's website, and officers homed in on the Williamtown property.

Two leopard geckos were seized. Picture by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Police from the Port Stephens Hunter Proactive Crime Team, backed by federal environmental officers, raided the home at about 6.30am on August 20.

Andrew David Rankmore, 40, allegedly tried to run but was stopped and searched by police.

Officers allegedly discovered a firearm on him, and another search of the property revealed 49 unregistered handguns, 14 unregistered rifles or shotguns, ammunition, gun parts, drugs, chemicals to make gun power, silver bullion and $15,000 cash, according to police.

He was refused bail on 96 charges in Raymond Terrace Local Court the day after his arrest and will remain behind bars ahead of his next court date in September.

More than a dozen rifles or shotguns were seized by police on August 20. Picture by NSW Police

The charges laid by NSW Police were unrelated to the federal wildlife investigation, which the DCCEEW confirmed on Monday was continuing.

No charges had been laid in connection with the seized animals at that time.

The raid at Williamtown on August 20 resulted in the seizure of 17 birds listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

The species included Hispaniolan amazon; blue-headed parrot; scaly-headed parrot; and blue-eyed, umbrella, and Moluccan cockatoos; as well as two leopard geckos and two red-eared slider turtles.

Live native animals like sugar gliders, green tree frogs and a thick-tailed gecko, which authorities claim were kept at the premises without the appropriate licences, were also seized.