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Authorities have seized more than 1,000 guns and gun parts during a operation targeting the spread of illegal weapons in the country and New Zealand.

International Initiative Results in Apprehensions and Recoveries

A seven-day international initiative resulted in over 180 apprehensions, according to border officials, and the confiscation of 281 DIY weapons and components, such as units made by additive manufacturing devices.

Regional Finds and Apprehensions

Within NSW, law enforcement discovered several three-dimensional printers together with semi-automatic handguns, cartridge holders and custom-made holders, among other items.

Regional law enforcement reported they apprehended 45 individuals and seized 518 weapons and weapon pieces as part of the initiative. Several individuals were charged with violations such as the production of banned firearms without proper authorization, shipping illegal products and owning a computer file for creation of firearms – an offense in certain regions.

“Such fabricated pieces may look colourful, but they are far from playthings. Once assembled, they turn into lethal weapons – completely illegal and very risky,” a senior police official stated in a statement. “This is the reason we’re targeting the entire network, from manufacturing devices to imported parts.

“Community security sits at the core of our gun registration framework. Shooters need to be registered, weapons are obliged to be registered, and adherence is non-negotiable.”

Increasing Issue of DIY Firearms

Data gathered for an inquiry indicates that during the previous five years in excess of 9,000 guns have been reported stolen, and that currently, police executed recoveries of DIY weapons in nearly all administrative division.

Court records show that the 3D models being manufactured domestically, driven by an digital network of creators and enthusiasts that support an “complete liberty to keep and bear arms”, are increasingly reliable and dangerous.

Over the past three to four years the trend has been from “extremely amateur, barely operational, almost a one-shot weapon” to more advanced weapons, police reported previously.

Customs Seizures and Online Sales

Pieces that are difficult to additively manufactured are often acquired from digital stores overseas.

An experienced immigration officer commented that more than 8,000 illicit firearms, parts and attachments had been found at the customs checkpoint in the most recent accounting period.

“Overseas firearm parts are often put together with additional DIY parts, creating risky and unmarked firearms filtering onto our neighborhoods,” the agent stated.

“Numerous of these items are being sold by online retailers, which might cause users to incorrectly assume they are unregulated on import. Many of these platforms only arrange transactions from abroad for the customer with no regard for customs laws.”

Other Confiscations Throughout Several Territories

Recoveries of items such as a crossbow and incendiary device were further executed in Victoria, the western territory, the island state and the the NT, where authorities said they found several homemade firearms, as well as a fabrication tool in the isolated community of a specific location.