🔗 Share this article

Authorities have seized over 1,000 guns and gun parts during a sweep aimed at the proliferation of unlawful firearms in the nation and its neighbor.

International Operation Leads to Detentions and Recoveries

The week-long international effort resulted in over 180 apprehensions, as reported by immigration authorities, and the recovery of 281 privately manufactured firearms and pieces, among them units produced using 3D printers.

State-Level Finds and Detentions

Across the state of NSW, police found several 3D printers in addition to pistols of a certain design, ammunition clips and custom-made holders, along with other gear.

Regional authorities said they detained 45 people and confiscated 518 weapons and firearm parts in the course of the operation. Several persons were faced with offences among them the creation of banned weapons without proper authorization, shipping prohibited goods and possessing a digital blueprint for production of firearms – a violation in certain regions.

“Such fabricated pieces might appear colourful, but they are far from playthings. When put together, they turn into dangerous tools – completely illegal and highly hazardous,” a high-ranking officer stated in a release. “This is the reason we’re targeting the full supply chain, from manufacturing devices to imported parts.

“Public safety is the foundation of our weapon control program. Gun owners are required to be licensed, firearms must be recorded, and conformity is non-negotiable.”

Growing Trend of DIY Weapons

Statistics collected for an inquiry reveals that over the past five years in excess of 9,000 firearms have been reported stolen, and that in 2025, police executed recoveries of DIY firearms in the majority of regional jurisdiction.

Court records reveal that the computer blueprints currently produced within the country, driven by an internet group of developers and enthusiasts that support an “complete liberty to own and carry weapons”, are steadily functional and lethal.

Over the past several years the pattern has been from “very novice, very low-powered, practically single-use” to more advanced firearms, authorities said at the time.

Immigration Interceptions and Web-Based Transactions

Components that are difficult to fabricated are often acquired from e-commerce sites overseas.

An experienced customs agent said that in excess of 8,000 unlawful weapons, parts and attachments had been detected at the frontier in the most recent accounting period.

“Imported firearm parts are often put together with other DIY components, creating risky and untraceable guns appearing on our streets,” the agent said.

“A lot of these products are being sold by online retailers, which might cause people to incorrectly assume they are unregulated on shipment. Numerous of these services only arrange transactions from abroad for the customer with no regard for customs laws.”

Additional Recoveries In Various Areas

Recoveries of objects such as a bow weapon and fire projector were also made in the southeastern state, the western territory, Tasmania and the the NT, where police said they found a number of DIY weapons, as well as a fabrication tool in the remote town of the named area.