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Law enforcement confiscated more than 1,000 firearms and gun parts in a crackdown focusing on the circulation of illicit guns in the country and the island nation.

International Effort Results in Arrests and Recoveries

A seven-day transnational initiative led to over 180 arrests, based on statements from immigration authorities, and the confiscation of 281 privately manufactured guns and pieces, including items made by additive manufacturing devices.

Regional Revelations and Arrests

Across the state of NSW, authorities located multiple three-dimensional printers alongside semi-automatic handguns, ammunition clips and 3D-printed holsters, among other items.

Local authorities stated they apprehended 45 suspects and confiscated 518 firearms and gun components as part of the initiative. Several persons were faced with crimes including the creation of illegal weapons without proper authorization, importing prohibited goods and possessing a computer file for production of firearms – a crime in various jurisdictions.

“Such fabricated pieces may look colourful, but they are serious items. After construction, they turn into dangerous tools – completely illegal and highly hazardous,” a high-ranking officer stated in a release. “This is the reason we’re aiming at the entire network, from manufacturing devices to overseas components.

“Citizen protection forms the basis of our weapon control program. Gun owners are required to be authorized, firearms must be recorded, and conformity is non-negotiable.”

Rising Phenomenon of Privately Made Weapons

Statistics collected for an investigation shows that during the previous five years more than 9,000 weapons have been lost to theft, and that this year, law enforcement made seizures of homemade guns in nearly all state and territory.

Court records indicate that the computer blueprints being manufactured in Australia, fuelled by an internet group of developers and enthusiasts that support an “absolute freedom to keep and bear arms”, are increasingly reliable and lethal.

During the last three to four years the trend has been from “very novice, barely operational, nearly disposable” to higher-quality weapons, law enforcement reported earlier.

Customs Seizures and Digital Purchases

Components that are not easily fabricated are commonly acquired from online retailers abroad.

An experienced border official said that over 8,000 unlawful guns, components and add-ons had been found at the customs checkpoint in the last financial year.

“Overseas weapon pieces can be constructed with additional privately manufactured components, producing hazardous and unmarked guns appearing on our streets,” the agent stated.

“Many of these items are offered by digital stores, which might cause users to mistakenly think they are unregulated on entry. A lot of these services just process purchases from overseas on the buyer’s behalf lacking attention for import regulations.”

Further Recoveries In Various Regions

Recoveries of objects including a crossbow and fire projector were additionally conducted in the state of Victoria, the WA region, Tasmania and the the NT, where law enforcement reported they located several DIY firearms, in addition to a additive manufacturing device in the distant settlement of a specific location.