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Police taken possession of over 1,000 guns and firearm components during a operation aimed at the proliferation of unlawful firearms in Australia and its neighbor.

Transnational Operation Results in Arrests and Confiscations

A seven-day cross-border operation led to in excess of 180 arrests, according to immigration authorities, and the recovery of 281 privately manufactured guns and components, among them products created with three-dimensional printers.

Regional Finds and Arrests

Within NSW, police discovered multiple three-dimensional printers alongside glock-style pistols, ammunition clips and custom-made holders, in addition to various pieces.

State police stated they detained 45 suspects and confiscated 518 guns and firearm parts during the effort. Several suspects were faced with violations such as the production of banned weapons without proper authorization, shipping prohibited goods and possessing a digital blueprint for creation of guns – an offense in certain regions.

“Such 3D printed components could seem colourful, but they are not toys. Once assembled, they become lethal weapons – completely illegal and extremely dangerous,” an experienced detective commented in a release. “For this purpose we’re aiming at the complete pipeline, from manufacturing devices to overseas components.

“Community security sits at the core of our firearms licensing system. Firearm users must be registered, guns have to be documented, and adherence is absolute.”

Growing Issue of Privately Made Firearms

Information gathered as part of an probe indicates that during the previous five years over 9,000 firearms have been reported stolen, and that this year, authorities conducted confiscations of DIY guns in the majority of regional jurisdiction.

Judicial files show that the 3D models being manufactured within the country, fuelled by an internet group of creators and advocates that advocate for an “absolute freedom to keep and bear arms”, are increasingly reliable and dangerous.

During the last three to four years the pattern has been from “highly unskilled, barely operational, almost a one-shot weapon” to superior firearms, authorities stated previously.

Border Seizures and Web-Based Sales

Pieces that are not easily additively manufactured are commonly purchased from online retailers internationally.

A high-ranking customs agent said that more than 8,000 illicit weapons, pieces and accessories had been discovered at the frontier in the most recent accounting period.

“Overseas gun components can be constructed with further privately manufactured pieces, forming dangerous and untraceable weapons appearing on our neighborhoods,” the officer added.

“Numerous of these items are offered by digital stores, which might cause users to mistakenly think they are permitted on import. Many of these services simply place orders from abroad acting as an intermediary lacking attention for border rules.”

Additional Confiscations Throughout Various Territories

Recoveries of items among them a bow weapon and incendiary device were also made in Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the the NT, where authorities stated they located multiple DIY guns, along with a 3D printer in the isolated community of Nhulunbuy.