“Sovereign citizens” and “doomsday preppers” are among hundreds arrested with 3D-printed firearms in a nationwide crackdown on illegal weapons.
An Australian Border Force operation has led to the seizure of more than 1000 firearms and parts, including 281 made via 3D-printing processes.
Across Australia, 184 arrests were made and 854 charges laid.
The increasing quality of 3D-printed weapons is elevating their threat to police and wider society, says NSW Police Detective Superintendent John Watson who heads Australia’s Illicit Firearms Working Group.
But he insists the results of the week-long operation show law enforcement innovation is keeping pace with alleged criminals.
“The rise of 3D printing is a demand on policing that is seeing new boundaries being set,” Det Supt Watson said on Wednesday.
“While these parts may be colourful, they’re not toys. Once assembled they are lethal weapons, they are all illicit and they are extremely dangerous.”
Border Force said 719 whole firearms were seized, 489 parts were captured and another 64 imitation firearms and gel blasters were found.
Other items seized include $250,000 cash and prohibited drugs.
Det Supt Watson said those caught with 3D-printed weapons “runs the full gamut of society”, including some people who were simply interested in exploring the technology.
“There are others that are more intent on defeating the process, so they are organised crime related … they have a profit motive,” he said.
“There are others that may be sovereign citizens or doomsday preppers, there is no question, so this operation and the learnings from it is going to build and complete the whole landscape.”
One raid in Gosford on the NSW Central Coast found a 3D printer, three manufactured Glock-style pistols, 3D-printed holsters and an imitation revolver.
The 52-year-old man arrested at the scene was charged with 14 various firearms offences.
A search at Kotara in Newcastle found two rifles, three revolvers, an automatic pistol and 1000 rounds of ammunition.
Dozens of raids in Western Australia over the past week netted 94 firearms, 223 firearm parts and several other weapons.
Those included a homemade shotgun, parts used to manufacture firearms, copies of firearm instruction manuals, pepper spray and a shock device seized from one home at Greenfields in Mandurah.
A 38-year-old man arrested at the scene will face a court on November 7 on several weapon charges.
Victorian authorities made 35 arrests for 161 charges, including a 62-year-old Cobden man charged with possessing a traffickable quantity of firearms. He was allegedly found with two handguns, nine partial revolvers and three longarm firearms among other items.
Border Force Commander Graeme Campbell said the “sophisticated, intelligence-led” operation had been a success and issued a warning to unsuspecting Australians buying online.
“Many of these items are being sold by online retailers, which may lead people to wrongly believe they are not controlled on import,” he said.
“Many of these websites simply place orders from overseas on the buyer’s behalf without any considerations for import regulations.”
Australian Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national newswire and has been delivering accurate, reliable and fast news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We keep Australia informed.
