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Authorities confiscated more than 1,000 guns and gun parts in a operation aimed at the spread of unlawful firearms in the country and New Zealand.

Transnational Effort Results in Arrests and Recoveries

A seven-day international initiative culminated in in excess of 180 arrests, based on statements from border officials, and the confiscation of 281 homemade guns and components, such as products created with three-dimensional printers.

State-Level Finds and Arrests

Across the state of NSW, authorities found several additive manufacturing devices in addition to semi-automatic handguns, magazines and fabricated carrying cases, in addition to various pieces.

State law enforcement said they arrested 45 individuals and seized 518 firearms and gun components during the effort. Multiple persons were faced with offences including the production of banned firearms without proper authorization, bringing in illegal products and possessing a computer file for creation of weapons – an offense in certain regions.

“Those additively manufactured parts might appear bright, but they are not toys. When put together, they become dangerous tools – completely illegal and extremely dangerous,” a senior police official stated in a release. “This is the reason we’re targeting the full supply chain, from printers to overseas components.

“Community security forms the basis of our gun registration framework. Shooters must be authorized, weapons must be registered, and conformity is mandatory.”

Growing Issue of Homemade Weapons

Statistics collected for an inquiry shows that in the last half-decade in excess of 9,000 weapons have been lost to theft, and that currently, authorities executed recoveries of privately manufactured weapons in the majority of state and territory.

Legal documents reveal that the 3D models currently produced domestically, driven by an digital network of creators and supporters that support an “unlimited right to keep and bear arms”, are increasingly reliable and deadly.

During the last few years the pattern has been from “very novice, minimally functional, almost a one-shot weapon” to more advanced firearms, police said at the time.

Immigration Seizures and Web-Based Purchases

Parts that are not easily additively manufactured are often purchased from e-commerce sites abroad.

An experienced immigration officer said that over 8,000 unlawful firearms, parts and attachments had been detected at the frontier in the previous fiscal year.

“Imported weapon pieces can be constructed with other DIY components, creating risky and unmarked firearms appearing on our communities,” the agent added.

“Numerous of these items are available for purchase by e-commerce sites, which may lead users to wrongly believe they are permitted on import. Many of these services just process purchases from overseas acting as an intermediary without any considerations for border rules.”

Further Seizures Across Several Areas

Confiscations of products among them a projectile launcher and flame-thrower were further executed in the southeastern state, the western territory, the southern isle and the the NT, where authorities reported they found multiple privately manufactured guns, in addition to a fabrication tool in the remote town of a specific location.