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Police taken possession of more than 1,000 weapons and weapon pieces as part of a crackdown targeting the proliferation of unlawful firearms in the country and New Zealand.

International Effort Results in Detentions and Recoveries

This extended cross-border operation led to in excess of 180 arrests, based on statements from customs agents, and the seizure of 281 DIY guns and components, among them items produced using additive manufacturing devices.

State-Level Discoveries and Arrests

In New South Wales, authorities found numerous three-dimensional printers together with glock-style pistols, cartridge holders and fabricated carrying cases, among other items.

Local authorities stated they detained 45 people and seized 518 guns and firearm parts during the operation. Several persons were faced with violations such as the manufacture of banned firearms without a licence, bringing in illegal products and having a digital blueprint for manufacture of guns – an offense in some states.

“These 3D printed components may look bright, but they are not toys. Once assembled, they are transformed into lethal weapons – entirely illicit and extremely dangerous,” a high-ranking officer said in a announcement. “This is the reason we’re aiming at the entire network, from printers to imported parts.

“Community security sits at the core of our firearms licensing system. Gun owners need to be licensed, weapons have to be registered, and conformity is mandatory.”

Increasing Phenomenon of Homemade Weapons

Information obtained during an investigation shows that in the last half-decade in excess of 9,000 firearms have been lost to theft, and that currently, police made seizures of homemade firearms in the majority of regional jurisdiction.

Court records show that the 3D models currently produced in Australia, powered by an online community of designers and enthusiasts that support an “unlimited right to possess firearms”, are more dependable and lethal.

In recent several years the trend has been from “very novice, minimally functional, practically single-use” to more advanced weapons, police said at the time.

Customs Interceptions and Online Purchases

Pieces that cannot be reliably fabricated are commonly purchased from e-commerce sites abroad.

An experienced customs agent stated that more than 8,000 unlawful guns, components and attachments had been discovered at the customs checkpoint in the most recent accounting period.

“Foreign-sourced weapon pieces may be assembled with further DIY parts, forming dangerous and unmarked guns making their way to our streets,” the agent added.

“Many of these items are offered by e-commerce sites, which may lead people to wrongly believe they are unregulated on entry. Many of these services just process purchases from international for the customer without any considerations for import regulations.”

Additional Recoveries Throughout Several Regions

Confiscations of objects such as a bow weapon and fire projector were further executed in the state of Victoria, the WA region, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, where law enforcement said they discovered a number of homemade guns, as well as a additive manufacturing device in the remote town of a specific location.