21 May 2025

Bikie-busting police squad allegedly seize replica guns, drugs in raid near Batemans Bay

| Albert McKnight
Police seized these items, alleged to be replica firearms, during a raid in Nelligen on 20 May.

Police seized these items, alleged to be replica firearms, during a raid in Nelligen on 20 May. Photo: South Coast Police District Facebook.

A police raid on a home west of Batemans Bay by the state’s bikie busters has allegedly resulted in the seizure of replica guns, a baton and drugs – and brought about a man’s arrest.

In November 2024, police began investigating the alleged possession of illegal firearms in the area.

Early on Tuesday morning (20 May), police officers executed a search warrant at a house on the Kings Highway in Nelligen with the help of NSW’s bikie-busting Raptor Squad.

“During a search of the house, police allegedly located several replica firearms, a baton and an amount of drugs,” a NSW Police spokesperson said.

READ ALSO Magistrate criticises NSW Police after car chase led to death of Canberra father

Florian Peter Fortuna, a 69-year-old man from the Eurobodalla, was arrested at the scene and taken to Batemans Bay Police Station.

He was charged with two counts of acquiring a firearm subject to a prohibition order as well as single counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol and possessing an unauthorised firearm.

He faced the Bega Local Court on Wednesday (21 May) where he was granted bail on conditions including that he report to a police station every day.

The matter was adjourned to the Batemans Bay Local Court on 2 June.

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