Kebab-wielding man seized as cops swoop on terrifying haul of more than 300 lethal weapons on sale at city market
- Police crack down on suspected illegal knife sellers
- Officers seized 300 knives, swords and blades
- Arrests after alleged street fights last year
Police have seized a consignment of weapons including stilettos, zombie knives and stab daggers, allegedly being sold openly at Paddy’s Market in Sydney’s Haymarket precinct.
A team of task force officers marched into the Market City building on Thursday to arrest a man who had a large collection of knives and swords in display cases at a stall.
When the market trader Zhi Wei Yuan was having a bite to eat, he briefly got into a conflict with the police. The police tried to handcuff him while he was holding a kebab or a sandwich. These fell to the ground when he was arrested.
Police seized more than 300 prohibited weapons, including sheath knives, butterfly knives, swords and concealed blades, from the stable and homes in Sydney’s west and northwest.
A second man was arrested in Haymarket and taken into custody. All the seizures stem from an incident on the street four months ago in the inner-city Waterloo district.
In March 2024, South Sydney Police established Strike Force Dudi to investigate a fight involving a number of men on Elizabeth Street.
A number of people have now been charged and are still before the courts.
During the investigation, Strike Force Dudi detectives determined that prohibited weapons were being sold from businesses in Haymarket.
Haymarket stallholder Zhi Wei Yuan is arrested while having lunch on Thursday. The 60-year-old was later charged with knife offences over the multiple knives for sale at his stall
As police attempt to handcuff Mr Yuan, his kebab or sandwich falls to the ground before he is taken away and charged to appear in Downing Centre District Court on Friday.
Police arrest 45-year-old Jianfeng Gong and take him to Day Street police station, where he was denied bail and charged with six weapons offences
In addition to the two men in Haymarket, police also raided homes on Amos Street, Westmead and Shepherd Street, Cherrybrook.
Jianfeng Gong, 45, and Zhi Wei Yuan, 60, were each charged with six offences and refused bail at Downing Centre District Court on Friday.
The charges include possessing or using prohibited weapons without a license, selling prohibited weapons to others without a license, and buying/selling/manufacturing prohibited weapons without a license.
The investigation into Strike Force Dudi is still ongoing.