NSW Police Seize Over 500 Firearms in Major Statewide Operation

NSW Police have seized more than 500 firearms across the state in a major crackdown targeting illicit weapons and unsafe storage practices.

The operation, conducted over recent weeks, has resulted in multiple arrests, including a Hunter Region man and a Sydney resident, highlighting the breadth of the issue.

In the Hunter Region, a man was arrested for possession of a prohibited firearm and failing to store it safely. He was refused bail and appeared at the Local Court on Wednesday, 15 October 2025.

In Sydney, police executed a search warrant in Belfield on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, where they seized a large arsenal of weapons, including:

• An imitation Glock pistol, two silver BB handguns, an imitation revolver, and a folding firearm
• A privately made firearm
• Seven slingshots, five extendable batons, a can of OC spray, and three firearm suppressors
• Over 3,700 rounds of ammunition
  Ten rifles registered to the man were also found at a property in Strathfield, where they were not stored safely.

The 47-year-old Sydney man was charged with multiple offences, including possession of prohibited weapons without a permit, possession of unauthorised pistols and firearms, failing to keep firearms safely, and intentionally importing prohibited Tier 2 goods without approval. He was refused bail and appeared in Bankstown Local Court on 15 October 2025.

Detective Superintendent John Watson, Commander of the State Crime Command’s Drug & Firearms Squad and National Chair of the Illicit Firearms Working Group, said the operations show how criminals are innovating—and how police are keeping pace.

“Privately manufactured firearms and 3D-printed components are not toys—they are lethal weapons. By targeting the full supply chain, from printers to imported parts, we are disrupting criminal activity and keeping our communities safe,” Det Supt Watson said.

“Public safety sits at the core of NSW’s firearms licensing system. Shooters must be licensed, firearms must be registered, and compliance is non-negotiable. Every illicit firearm we remove is one less threat to public safety,” he added.

The seizures form part of a broader NSW Police effort to enforce safe firearm ownership, prevent criminal misuse, and disrupt the distribution of illegal weapons across the state.