A 47-year-old man was arrested and charged by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers on Wednesday 21 June following the seizure of an alleged firearm part at the border.
On 7 June 2023, ABF officers detected a firearm barrel via air cargo. Investigations revealed the importer did not hold a firearms licence or a permit to import the item into Australia.
On 21 June 2023, ABF investigators executed a search warrant at the man’s residential address in the north-west of Sydney with the support of NSW Police. Investigators located a substantial collection of weapons including compound bows, blow darts, a substantial quantity of knives, along with a small amount of prohibited drugs.
The man was arrested and charged by ABF Investigators for offences relating to the prohibited imports, as well as possession of prohibited drugs.
ABF Acting Commander Raef McDonough said criminals are on notice for this type of behaviour at the border.
“The Australian border is our most critical national asset and we will not allow criminals to undermine its integrity,” Acting Commander McDonough said.
“People that seek to import dangerous weapons and weapon parts will always be targeted by the ABF.”
The man was granted conditional bail to appear before the Burwood Local Court on 10 July 2023.
Anyone with information about suspicious border activity or border-related crime in the community can report it anytime through Border Watch at borderwatch.gov.au. Information can be provided anonymously.
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