Firearms, stun guns and more than $10,000 have been found after a car was abandoned, leading to the arrest of two people.
Mac James Longford, 34, and Josie Rose Pearson, 22, appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, July 2.
The pair are yet to enter pleas after Pearson was charged with unauthorised possession of firearms, and Longford was charged with possessing ammunition and a prohibited weapon without authorisation.
Police allege the pair were travelling in a black Nissan Navara in McKellar about 12.40pm on Wednesday.
When officers attempted to stop the car, they allegedly drove towards a police vehicle before fleeing.
A tyre was punctured after officers deployed road spikes, but the Navara was able to leave the scene.
The court heard a loaded firearm was allegedly thrown from the vehicle onto a residential driveway before the car was abandoned.
Police found the vehicle a short time later on Sprout Circuit, McKellar, and the pair were arrested in nearby Evatt about 1pm.
During searches following the arrests, police allegedly found a firearm, two stun guns, and more than $10,000 in cash. A second firearm was allegedly recovered in McKellar.
In court, Legal Aid duty lawyer Niamh Dwyer applied for bail on Longford's behalf, which was opposed by the prosecution due to a risk of him committing offences.
Prosecutor Sam McLaughlin said NSW police intelligence had identified Longford, who lives in the Batemans Bay area, as someone potentially coming to the ACT to engage in criminal activity.
Mr McLaughlin told the court there was a "strong circumstantial" link between Longford and the seized weapons.
He said that since Longford's arrest, a search warrant executed at his home had allegedly uncovered 19 firearms.
However, Ms Dwyer argued the prosecution's case was weak, noting there was no evidence placing Longford in the vehicle during the interaction with police, as he was only spotted with Pearson after the car was abandoned.
She also said police had not established whether Longford had exclusive possession of the firearms seized by police.
She argued Longford could comply with strict bail conditions, including living at his home in NSW and not entering the ACT unless required to do so.
Magistrate Alexandra Burt refused the bail application, finding there was a strong prosecution case, noting the investigation was still in its early stages.
She said she was concerned by the number of firearms allegedly uncovered at his home, and found there was a likelihood of Longford endangering the community if he was released.
Following Longford's unsuccessful application, Pearson appeared in court and was granted bail under strict conditions - including a non-contact order regarding Longford - after the prosecution chose not to oppose her release.
Police indicated that further charges may be laid as the investigation continued.
The pair will return to court in July.
