POLICE have recovered a rare opal allegedly stolen last month during a search of a vehicle in Lightning Ridge.
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It follows an incident where the occupant of a Gunnedah rural property found his safe had been broken into and the rare opal and other items were taken in the early hours of December 23.
Police from Oxley Local Area Command were alerted and launched an investigation.
Just before 8pm that night, officers patrolling View Street stopped a vehicle and allegedly located a firearm, ammunition and prohibited drugs.
The 22-year-old male driver was arrested and charged with break and enter, goods in custody, and firearm and drug-related offences.
He was remanded in custody to appear before Tamworth Local Court on February 10, 2015.
Further inquiries prompted police to execute two search warrants at properties on Lincoln and View streets at Gunnedah last Thursday.
While searching both properties police found other items believed to be stolen, which were seized from the locations.
Lightning Ridge detectives later attended a motel in Lightning Ridge where they stopped a vehicle and conducted a search.
It will be alleged officers discovered the rare opal hidden inside the vehicle and also found two large knives.
Two men were arrested and taken to Lightning Ridge Police Station.
A 33-year-old man was charged with deal with property suspected of being proceeds of crime, attempt to dispose of stolen property and possession of a knife in a public place.
He was granted conditional bail to appear before Lightning Ridge Local Court on January 28, 2015.
The other man was released pending further inquiries.