Man Charged After Police Uncover 3D Printed Firearm Manufacturing Operation

A 32-year-old man will appear in court on Nov. 14 after being charged following an investigation into the manufacture of 3D printed firearms and weapons in north-west New South Wales.
Earlier this month, officers from the Moree Proactive Crime Team and Crime Prevention Unit commenced investigations into the manufacturing of firearms via 3D printing.
Following investigations, at about 3.40 p.m. on Nov. 13, officers from the New England Police District executed a search warrant on a home on Amaroo Drive, Moree.
During the search, officers seized what is alleged to be a 3D printer, firearms and parts, ammunition, computers, and telecommunication devices.
The alleged offender was taken to Moree Police Station, where he was charged with a number of offences, including three counts of possessing an unauthorised firearm, possessing more than three unregistered firearms without a licence, two counts of possessing ammunition without a licence and possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit.
He was further charged with manufacturing a weapon without a permit, two counts of possessing digital blueprints for making prohibited weapons and acquiring a prohibited firearm part with no authority to do so.
The accused was refused bail and is set to appear in Inverell Local Court.
Earlier at a nationwide symposium, Detective Superintendent John Watson, Commander of the NSW Police Force’s Drug and Firearms Squad, stated that these firearms have infiltrated Australian streets, homes, and communities.
“Australia has the toughest firearm laws in the world, that’s a fact. What these criminals are attempting to do is skirt around these laws and put the public in danger,” he said.
“While they may look clownish or even toy-like, the fact is they are genuine and potentially lethal weapons.”