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Law enforcement have seized more than 1,000 firearms and firearm components as part of a sweep focusing on the spread of unlawful guns in Australia and New Zealand.

Cross-Border Effort Leads to Detentions and Recoveries

A seven-day international initiative culminated in more than 180 arrests, based on statements from border officials, and the confiscation of 281 DIY firearms and parts, among them units made by 3D printers.

Local Discoveries and Arrests

Across the state of NSW, police discovered numerous three-dimensional printers alongside glock-style pistols, magazines and 3D-printed holsters, among other items.

Regional law enforcement reported they arrested 45 individuals and confiscated 518 firearms and gun components in the course of the effort. Numerous suspects were accused of violations such as the creation of illegal guns unlicensed, shipping banned items and possessing a digital blueprint for manufacture of firearms – an offense in various jurisdictions.

“Such additively manufactured parts could seem colourful, but they are serious items. When put together, they turn into dangerous tools – totally unlawful and very risky,” a high-ranking officer said in a announcement. “That’s why we’re focusing on the full supply chain, from printers to imported parts.

“Citizen protection is the foundation of our firearms licensing system. Firearm users are required to be authorized, guns have to be recorded, and compliance is absolute.”

Increasing Trend of DIY Guns

Statistics gathered during an investigation reveals that during the previous five years more than 9,000 guns have been taken illegally, and that in 2025, police made seizures of privately manufactured guns in nearly all state and territory.

Legal documents show that the digital designs now created domestically, powered by an online community of designers and enthusiasts that promote an “unlimited right to possess firearms”, are steadily functional and lethal.

Over the past three to four years the trend has been from “very novice, barely operational, nearly disposable” to superior weapons, police said earlier.

Customs Interceptions and Web-Based Transactions

Pieces that are difficult to fabricated are frequently acquired from online retailers internationally.

A high-ranking immigration officer stated that more than 8,000 illicit firearms, parts and add-ons had been detected at the border in the most recent accounting period.

“Imported weapon pieces can be constructed with additional privately manufactured parts, forming dangerous and untraceable guns appearing on our streets,” the officer said.

“Numerous of these goods are being sold by digital stores, which might cause individuals to wrongly believe they are permitted on entry. A lot of these services only arrange transactions from international on the buyer’s behalf lacking attention for customs laws.”

Additional Confiscations Throughout Multiple Regions

Recoveries of products among them a bow weapon and incendiary device were additionally conducted in the southeastern state, the WA region, the southern isle and the the central territory, where authorities stated they located multiple homemade guns, in addition to a additive manufacturing device in the isolated community of Nhulunbuy.