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Police have seized over 1,000 guns and gun parts in a crackdown aimed at the proliferation of illegal guns in Australia and its neighbor.

Transnational Effort Results in Apprehensions and Seizures

A seven-day international effort culminated in more than 180 arrests, based on statements from customs agents, and the confiscation of 281 DIY guns and parts, such as items made by additive manufacturing devices.

State-Level Discoveries and Apprehensions

Across the state of NSW, police located numerous additive manufacturing devices alongside pistols of a certain design, ammunition clips and custom-made holders, among other items.

Local authorities said they detained 45 individuals and seized 518 firearms and firearm parts during the effort. Numerous persons were accused of offences such as the manufacture of illegal weapons unlicensed, shipping banned items and owning a computer file for creation of firearms – a violation in some states.

“Those additively manufactured parts could seem bright, but they are not toys. Once assembled, they turn into dangerous tools – completely illegal and very risky,” an experienced detective stated in a announcement. “For this purpose we’re focusing on the full supply chain, from printers to overseas components.

“Citizen protection is the foundation of our gun registration framework. Firearm users are required to be licensed, firearms must be recorded, and conformity is absolute.”

Growing Issue of Homemade Firearms

Information collected for an probe indicates that over the past five years over 9,000 firearms have been reported stolen, and that this year, law enforcement conducted confiscations of DIY firearms in almost every administrative division.

Court records reveal that the digital designs now created within the country, fuelled by an internet group of creators and advocates that promote an “complete liberty to keep and bear arms”, are more dependable and lethal.

During the last several years the development has been from “very novice, minimally functional, almost a one-shot weapon” to superior guns, law enforcement stated at the time.

Border Discoveries and Web-Based Purchases

Parts that are difficult to 3D-printed are often acquired from online retailers overseas.

A high-ranking border official said that more than 8,000 illicit guns, parts and attachments had been found at the border in the previous fiscal year.

“Overseas firearm parts are often put together with other homemade parts, creating hazardous and unmarked firearms filtering onto our neighborhoods,” the official added.

“Numerous of these items are available for purchase by digital stores, which may lead individuals to wrongly believe they are unregulated on shipment. A lot of these websites only arrange transactions from international for the customer with no regard for import regulations.”

Further Recoveries In Several Areas

Recoveries of objects among them a bow weapon and fire projector were further executed in the southeastern state, Western Australia, Tasmania and the the NT, where police reported they discovered a number of privately manufactured guns, as well as a 3D printer in the remote town of the named area.