Sovereign citizens, preppers and gangsters arrested in police firearms blitz

“People who are interested in firearms, some with no criminal history. But at the other end of the spectrum are people with obvious mental health problems, single-minded people, independent citizen ideals, and those who are preparing for the apocalypse. And organized crime – there is no doubt – OMCG [Outlaw Motorcycle Gang] There are also bicycles.”

A Sydney man’s haul allegedly included two silver pistols, seven slingshots, an imitation Glock and pistol, five batons, pepper spray, 3700 rounds of ammunition and 10 rifles improperly stored in Strathfield.

A 41-year-old Sydney man faced Liverpool Local Court last week after police allegedly caught him trying to tamper with part of a firearm in Hinchinbrook.

Another man in Gosford has been charged with 14 offenses after police allegedly seized custom-made Glock-style pistols, holsters and magazines.

The ABF and police said 3D printed weapons pose an increasing threat, especially when paired with imported components.

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“Imported firearm parts can be produced together with other custom-made parts, creating dangerous and untraceable weapons finding their way onto our streets,” Australian Border Force Commander Graeme Campbell told reporters.

Just days before the attack, tactical officers swooped in on a crew of alleged hitmen who had traveled to a Sydney nursery to carry out a gangland execution.

“We encountered a hit squad intent on killing someone, and they had specially manufactured firearms,” ​​Watson said.

“What we’re finding is that organized crime is involved, and we’re seeing privately produced firearms becoming more common.”

The National Illegal Firearms Working Group is a collaboration between the border force, federal police, state crime agencies and New Zealand police.

Investigators are investigating how the seized firearms entered the country.

“Last financial year the ABF detected more than 8,000 illegal firearms, parts and accessories at the Australian border,” Campbell said.

“In the wrong hands, these firearms can be deadly.”

Campbell said firearms were being imported, in whole or in part, into Australia “from everywhere”, including the US.

Watson said most of the 3D printed guns seized in Australia were high-powered handguns. Technology is improving and allowing more complex and “absolutely lethal” designs to proliferate.

In June 2022, a Brisbane teenager was accused of printing a fully functional semi-automatic rifle capable of firing 15 rounds with a single pull of the trigger for less than $40.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated with a homemade shotgun two weeks later.

In October that year, religious extremists in Queensland used commercially produced weapons to kill two police officers and their neighbours.

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Meanwhile, sovereign citizen Dezi Freeman remains at large in regional Victoria months later despite allegedly killing police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart and wounding a third police officer.

Police alleged that Freeman used a homemade firearm in the ambush, but the gun jammed before he could fire at the fourth officer.

“We don’t want another Port Arthur,” Watson said.

“We were always at the forefront, we pivoted and our laws became the strongest in the world.”

Watson wanted people to know that obtaining blueprints for guns was a serious offense and hoped Australians would talk to their children about the risks and report their concerns to authorities.

“We need to make sure there’s a lot of education and public awareness about this particular threat, this 3D printing trend,” he said.

“You must not print off a firearm or part of a firearm. It carries 14 years in NSW. This is a serious offence.”

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