news, crime, illegal firearms, Operation Athena, police
ACT police seized two .22 calibre rifles, a replica hand grenade, ammunition and a gel blaster during the national Operation Athena crackdown on illegal firearms last week. Police teams conducted 11 compliance checks across the territory, in which the two rifles were unconditionally surrendered. Among the other prohibited items seized during the compliance checks were nun-chucks and knuckledusters, as well as a quantity of fireworks. One male was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm and/or ammunition, while inquiries are continuing regarding two additional persons of interest. Police believe that most firearms entering the ACT come from NSW, with a significant proportion stolen from rural properties. Rifles are the most common firearms seized in the ACT. Police say It is common for recovered stolen firearms to be traced to recent or historic theft incidents. It is also known that the illicit firearms often change hands during the period of time that they were in the illicit market. The AFP’s Forensic Intelligence Team assesses all illicit firearms seized, aiming to determine if the weapon can be linked to recorded crime, and in an effort to determine from where the weapon may have been sourced. Working with federal agents and Border Force, police target individuals who source parts, materials, tools and/or instructional material that may be intended for use in improvised firearm manufacture. Late last year a consignment was intercepted from The Netherlands which contained a semi-automatic handgun frame in one package, and a silencer and other parts in another package. A 56-year-old Sydney man was arrested and charged in relation to that incident. In a separate incident a few days earlier, another man was arrested importing AR-15 rifle parts concealed inside a Bluetooth speaker. Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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ACT police seized two .22 calibre rifles, a replica hand grenade, ammunition and a gel blaster during the national Operation Athena crackdown on illegal firearms last week.
Police teams conducted 11 compliance checks across the territory, in which the two rifles were unconditionally surrendered.
Among the other prohibited items seized during the compliance checks were nun-chucks and knuckledusters, as well as a quantity of fireworks.
One male was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm and/or ammunition, while inquiries are continuing regarding two additional persons of interest.
Police believe that most firearms entering the ACT come from NSW, with a significant proportion stolen from rural properties.
Rifles are the most common firearms seized in the ACT.
Police say It is common for recovered stolen firearms to be traced to recent or historic theft incidents.
It is also known that the illicit firearms often change hands during the period of time that they were in the illicit market.
The AFP’s Forensic Intelligence Team assesses all illicit firearms seized, aiming to determine if the weapon can be linked to recorded crime, and in an effort to determine from where the weapon may have been sourced.
Working with federal agents and Border Force, police target individuals who source parts, materials, tools and/or instructional material that may be intended for use in improvised firearm manufacture.
Late last year a consignment was intercepted from The Netherlands which contained a semi-automatic handgun frame in one package, and a silencer and other parts in another package. A 56-year-old Sydney man was arrested and charged in relation to that incident.
In a separate incident a few days earlier, another man was arrested importing AR-15 rifle parts concealed inside a Bluetooth speaker.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
