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Police have seized more than 1,000 guns and firearm components during a crackdown targeting the proliferation of illegal firearms in Australia and New Zealand.

International Operation Culminates in Apprehensions and Recoveries

A seven-day cross-border operation culminated in in excess of 180 detentions, according to customs agents, and the recovery of 281 homemade weapons and pieces, among them items made by 3D printers.

State-Level Finds and Apprehensions

In New South Wales, law enforcement discovered numerous three-dimensional printers together with glock-style pistols, ammunition clips and custom-made holders, along with other gear.

Regional law enforcement reported they detained 45 suspects and seized 518 guns and firearm parts during the operation. Multiple suspects were charged with crimes including the manufacture of illegal weapons without proper authorization, bringing in illegal products and owning a digital blueprint for manufacture of firearms – a crime in various jurisdictions.

“Those additively manufactured parts could seem vibrant, but they are not toys. Once assembled, they are transformed into deadly arms – totally unlawful and very risky,” an experienced detective commented in a announcement. “For this purpose we’re targeting the entire network, from printers to imported parts.

“Public safety forms the basis of our firearms licensing system. Gun owners need to be licensed, guns are obliged to be documented, and adherence is mandatory.”

Increasing Phenomenon of DIY Weapons

Data gathered as part of an investigation reveals that over the past five years over 9,000 weapons have been reported stolen, and that in 2025, police conducted confiscations of DIY firearms in almost every state and territory.

Legal documents show that the 3D models being manufactured within the country, powered by an online community of designers and enthusiasts that support an “complete liberty to possess firearms”, are more dependable and lethal.

In recent three to four years the pattern has been from “very novice, barely operational, nearly disposable” to superior firearms, authorities reported earlier.

Immigration Interceptions and Web-Based Sales

Pieces that are difficult to 3D-printed are often acquired from digital stores overseas.

A high-ranking customs agent stated that over 8,000 unlawful guns, pieces and accessories had been detected at the customs checkpoint in the previous fiscal year.

“Foreign-sourced weapon pieces may be assembled with other privately manufactured pieces, forming hazardous and unmarked firearms filtering onto our communities,” the officer stated.

“A lot of these products are offered by digital stores, which could result in individuals to wrongly believe they are not controlled on shipment. A lot of these services just process purchases from overseas for the customer without any considerations for import regulations.”

Additional Confiscations Throughout Various Areas

Confiscations of products among them a bow weapon and flame-thrower were also made in the southeastern state, the WA region, the island state and the Northern Territory, where police said they found several DIY weapons, as well as a fabrication tool in the distant settlement of the named area.