Sovereign citizens and doomsday preppers with 3D-printed firearms are among hundreds of people arrested in a nationwide crack down on illegal weapons.

An Australian Border Force operation has led to the seizure of more than 1,000 firearms and parts, including 281 made via 3D-printing processes.

Across Australia, 184 arrests were made and 854 charges laid.

NSW Police Detective Superintendent John Watson said the increasing quality of 3D-printed weapons was elevating their threat to police and wider society.

A brown plastic gun and parts.

Authorities have arrested people for using 3D printers to make guns. (Supplied: Australian Border Force)

But Detective Superintendent Watson, head of Australia’s Illicit Firearms Working Group, insisted the results of the week-long operation showed law enforcement innovation was keeping pace with alleged criminals.

“The rise of 3D printing is a demand on policing that is seeing new boundaries being set,” he said.

“While these parts may be colourful, they’re not toys. 

“Once assembled they are lethal weapons, they are all illicit and they are extremely dangerous.”

Border Force said 719 whole firearms were seized, 489 parts were captured and another 64 imitation firearms and gel blasters were found.

Other items seized include $250,000 and prohibited drugs.

Four arrested over alleged illegal manufacturing of 3D-printed firearms

Four men are arrested in raids at homes in Queanbeyan, Gundaroo and Nanima, with police allegedly seizing a number of items including dozens of guns, parts, ammunition and blueprints for 3D-printed firearms.

Detective Superintendent Watson said those caught with 3D-printed weapons ran the “full gamut of society”, including some people who were simply interested in exploring the technology.

“There are others that are more intent on defeating the process, so they are organised-crime related … they have a profit motive,” he said.

“There are others that may be sovereign citizens or doomsday preppers, there is no question, so this operation and the learnings from it is going to build and complete the whole landscape.”

One raid in Gosford on the NSW Central Coast found a 3D printer, three manufactured Glock-style pistols, 3D-printed holsters and an imitation revolver.

The 52-year-old man arrested at the scene was charged with 14 firearms offences.

A 3D printer

The rise of 3D printing is a demand on policing, according to the head of Australia’s Illicit Firearms Working Group. (Supplied: Australian Border Force)

A search at Kotara in Newcastle found two rifles, three revolvers, an automatic pistol and 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Dozens of raids in Western Australia over the past week netted 94 firearms, 223 firearm parts and several other weapons.

Those included a homemade shotgun, parts used to manufacture firearms, copies of firearm instruction manuals, pepper spray and a shock device seized from a home at Greenfields in Mandurah.

A 38-year-old man arrested at the scene will face a court on November 7 on several weapons charges.

Victorian authorities laid 161 charges and made 35 arrests, including a 62-year-old Cobden man charged with possessing a traffickable quantity of firearms.

FBI boss gave NZ officials 3D-printed guns

On a visit to New Zealand in July, FBI Director Kash Patel presented three senior security officials with 3D-printed guns that were later destroyed. 

He was allegedly found with two handguns, nine partial revolvers and three long-arm firearms.

Border Force Commander Graeme Campbell said the “sophisticated, intelligence-led” operation had been a success and issued a warning to Australians buying online.

“Many of these items are being sold by online retailers, which may lead people to wrongly believe they are not controlled on import,” he said.

“Many of these websites simply place orders from overseas on the buyer’s behalf without any considerations for import regulations.”

AAP