🔗 Share this article Large-Scale Illegal Weapons Operation Sees Over 1,000 Pieces Taken in Aotearoa and Australia Police have seized over 1,000 firearms and weapon pieces as part of a operation focusing on the circulation of unlawful firearms in the country and the island nation. International Operation Culminates in Apprehensions and Recoveries The week-long transnational effort resulted in in excess of 180 arrests, based on statements from border officials, and the confiscation of 281 homemade guns and components, including products created with additive manufacturing devices. State-Level Discoveries and Apprehensions In New South Wales, authorities discovered numerous additive manufacturing devices alongside semi-automatic handguns, magazines and fabricated carrying cases, in addition to various pieces. Regional police stated they arrested 45 people and seized 518 firearms and weapon pieces during the effort. Multiple persons were faced with violations including the manufacture of banned weapons without proper authorization, shipping illegal products and having a electronic design for production of weapons – a violation in certain regions. “These additively manufactured parts may look colourful, but they are serious items. When put together, they are transformed into dangerous tools – completely illegal and extremely dangerous,” a senior police official commented in a statement. “That’s why we’re aiming at the entire network, from manufacturing devices to imported parts. “Citizen protection sits at the core of our gun registration framework. Gun owners are required to be authorized, firearms must be recorded, and adherence is non-negotiable.” Rising Trend of Homemade Guns Information collected as part of an inquiry shows that in the last half-decade in excess of 9,000 guns have been reported stolen, and that in 2025, police conducted confiscations of homemade guns in nearly all administrative division. Judicial files indicate that the digital designs being manufactured in Australia, powered by an internet group of creators and enthusiasts that support an “absolute freedom to keep and bear arms”, are increasingly reliable and dangerous. In recent several years the trend has been from “highly unskilled, barely operational, almost a one-shot weapon” to higher-quality weapons, police said at the time. Border Discoveries and Online Sales Components that cannot be reliably additively manufactured are frequently ordered from online retailers abroad. A high-ranking customs agent stated that over 8,000 unlawful weapons, parts and accessories had been detected at the border in the most recent accounting period. “Foreign-sourced gun components can be constructed with additional privately manufactured components, forming dangerous and untraceable weapons making their way to our streets,” the officer added. “A lot of these goods are being sold by online retailers, which may lead users to wrongly believe they are unregulated on shipment. Many of these services simply place orders from abroad on the buyer’s behalf without any considerations for customs laws.” Additional Seizures Throughout Several Regions Confiscations of products including a bow weapon and flame-thrower were additionally conducted in the state of Victoria, the western territory, the island state and the Northern Territory, where police said they discovered a number of homemade guns, along with a 3D printer in the remote town of the named area.