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Authorities confiscated over 1,000 weapons and firearm components during a operation aimed at the proliferation of illicit weapons in the country and New Zealand.

Transnational Effort Results in Detentions and Seizures

A seven-day transnational effort resulted in over 180 arrests, according to border officials, and the recovery of 281 DIY firearms and components, including units produced using 3D printers.

Local Discoveries and Apprehensions

Across the state of NSW, law enforcement discovered several additive manufacturing devices in addition to glock-style pistols, ammunition clips and custom-made holders, among other items.

Local authorities reported they apprehended 45 suspects and confiscated 518 guns and gun components as part of the operation. Several individuals were faced with offences including the creation of illegal guns without proper authorization, importing prohibited goods and having a electronic design for production of weapons – an offense in certain regions.

“Those fabricated pieces could seem bright, but they are serious items. Once assembled, they are transformed into deadly arms – totally unlawful and highly hazardous,” a high-ranking officer said in a release. “That’s why we’re targeting the full supply chain, from fabrication tools to imported parts.

“Citizen protection is the foundation of our weapon control program. Gun owners need to be licensed, guns are obliged to be documented, and adherence is absolute.”

Increasing Trend of DIY Guns

Data gathered during an probe shows that in the last half-decade in excess of 9,000 firearms have been lost to theft, and that in 2025, authorities executed recoveries of homemade firearms in nearly all state and territory.

Judicial files reveal that the computer blueprints currently produced in Australia, driven by an internet group of designers and advocates that promote an “unlimited right to possess firearms”, are steadily functional and dangerous.

Over the past few years the pattern has been from “extremely amateur, minimally functional, practically single-use” to more advanced firearms, law enforcement reported at the time.

Border Interceptions and Web-Based Transactions

Pieces that are not easily additively manufactured are commonly acquired from digital stores overseas.

An experienced customs agent said that over 8,000 illicit guns, pieces and attachments had been found at the border in the most recent accounting period.

“Foreign-sourced gun components are often put together with further DIY pieces, producing risky and unregistered firearms filtering onto our streets,” the agent added.

“A lot of these goods are available for purchase by online retailers, which may lead people to mistakenly think they are permitted on shipment. Many of these platforms only arrange transactions from abroad on the buyer’s behalf lacking attention for customs laws.”

Other Seizures In Multiple Areas

Recoveries of objects among them a bow weapon and incendiary device were additionally conducted in the state of Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the the NT, where law enforcement reported they located multiple privately manufactured guns, in addition to a additive manufacturing device in the remote town of a specific location.