PLEASE NOTE: NSW Police Force-branded images are available on our social media pages
Drug and Firearm Squad detectives have charged a man after seizing illegal firearms, firearm parts and weapons in Sydney’s south-west, as part of an ongoing investigation into the importation and manufacture of 3D-printed firearms.
In September 2021, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Temarang to investigate the importation and manufacture of 3D-printed firearms, firearm parts and other improvised firearms into NSW.
Following extensive investigations, including information from the Department of Home Affairs, AUSTRAC, and Australian Federal Police, strike force detectives served a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) on a man as he left his house in Cambridge Avenue, Bankstown, about 10am on Thursday 24 February 2022.
In a subsequent search of the house, officers located an unfinished semi-automatic firearm, three 3D printers and spools of 3D printer wire.
A crime scene was declared and – in a further search – investigators seized more than 200 rounds of live ammunition and a black Ruger .22 calibre rifle with scope. Officers also located books and computers believed to contain instructions for firearms manufacture, plastic firearm parts, a Glock-style gel blaster, an M16 style semi-automatic gel blaster, a replica revolver, cannabis, and a large quantity of fireworks.
In a garage at the premises, investigators located a bag containing a pistol and ammunition.
A short time later, a search warrant was executed at a factory on Canterbury Road, Punchbowl, where officers located and seized a 3D-printed semi-automatic rifle, boxes of ammunition, 11 unfinished firearm barrels, and firearm parts including silencers and scopes.
Also found at the factory were lathes, hydraulic presses and other tools, allegedly used in the manufacture of 3D-printed firearms.
The man, aged 45, was arrested and taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with three counts possess unauthorised pistol, two counts possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, two counts intentionally import prohibited tier-2 goods, possess unauthorised firearm, possess prohibited drug, possess unregistered firearm – not pistol/prohibited firearm, and manufacture prohibited firearm without licence/permit.
He appeared at Bankstown Local Court on Friday 25 February 2022, where he was refused bail to appear at the same court on Thursday 21 April 2022.
Investigations under Strike Force Temarang are continuing.
For more information about the Firearms Amnesty, visit: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
