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Police taken possession of more than 1,000 weapons and gun parts as part of a crackdown focusing on the proliferation of illicit guns in Australia and New Zealand.

International Operation Results in Detentions and Recoveries

The week-long transnational operation resulted in more than 180 detentions, according to border officials, and the confiscation of 281 privately manufactured firearms and pieces, including products made by 3D printers.

State-Level Finds and Arrests

Within NSW, police discovered several 3D printers in addition to glock-style pistols, ammunition clips and fabricated carrying cases, among other items.

Local police stated they arrested 45 individuals and seized 518 firearms and gun components during the operation. Several suspects were accused of offences among them the creation of banned guns unlicensed, importing illegal products and possessing a digital blueprint for production of guns – a violation in certain regions.

“Such additively manufactured parts might appear colourful, but they are far from playthings. Once assembled, they are transformed into lethal weapons – completely illegal and very risky,” a high-ranking officer said in a announcement. “That’s why we’re aiming at the entire network, from printers to overseas components.

“Public safety forms the basis of our weapon control program. Firearm users are required to be authorized, weapons are obliged to be recorded, and compliance is non-negotiable.”

Growing Trend of Homemade Guns

Information obtained for an investigation shows that over the past five years over 9,000 firearms have been reported stolen, and that currently, authorities executed recoveries of privately manufactured firearms in the majority of administrative division.

Court records indicate that the 3D models currently produced in Australia, fuelled by an internet group of developers and enthusiasts that promote an “complete liberty to possess firearms”, are steadily functional and deadly.

Over the past several years the trend has been from “highly unskilled, very low-powered, almost a one-shot weapon” to superior guns, law enforcement said at the time.

Border Seizures and Online Transactions

Parts that cannot be reliably fabricated are frequently ordered from digital stores internationally.

An experienced immigration officer said that more than 8,000 unlawful guns, components and attachments had been detected at the frontier in the most recent accounting period.

“Overseas weapon pieces may be assembled with other privately manufactured components, forming dangerous and unmarked firearms appearing on our neighborhoods,” the official added.

“Many of these products are being sold by digital stores, which might cause people to incorrectly assume they are unregulated on entry. Numerous of these platforms simply place orders from international for the customer without any considerations for import regulations.”

Other Seizures Throughout Various Areas

Confiscations of products including a bow weapon and flame-thrower were also made in the state of Victoria, the western territory, the island state and the Northern Territory, where law enforcement stated they found a number of DIY firearms, as well as a 3D printer in the distant settlement of Nhulunbuy.