NSW Police Seize 230 Firearms During Major Weapons Crackdown
By Chloe · Published 26 Oct 2026 · Updated 26 Oct 2026
Sydney, NSW · New South Wales News
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NSW Police Seize 230 Firearms During Major Weapons Crackdown - Sydney, NSW
Smart summary
Police say 230 firearms were seized and 39 people arrested during a nationwide operation targeting illegal weapons, ammunition and prohibited items.
New South Wales Police have reported the seizure of 230 firearms during a nationwide weapons crackdown that ran from 19 to 25 October 2026. The operation involved Australian and New Zealand law enforcement agencies and targeted the possession, supply and use of illegal firearms and other prohibited weapons.
Police said 39 people were arrested during the week-long operation. In New South Wales, officers executed 12 search warrants and laid 111 charges. Authorities also issued 21 Firearm Prohibition Orders, which can impose restrictions on people considered to pose a risk involving firearms.
The items seized during the operation included ammunition, firearm components, imitation firearms, privately manufactured weapons and other prohibited weapons. Police also reported recovering a privately made firearm, believed to have been produced using 3D-printing technology. Authorities have increasingly focused on privately manufactured weapons because they may be difficult to trace and can bypass conventional controls when made illegally.
Investigations in regional New South Wales resulted in charges against two men following searches in South Lismore and Kurri Kurri. The men, aged 35 and 42, were charged in connection with alleged weapons and drug offences. One man was refused bail, while the other was granted conditional bail. The matters remain subject to court proceedings, and the allegations have not been proven.
The operation formed part of a broader effort to disrupt illegal weapons networks and reduce the risk of firearms being used in violent crime. Police agencies across Australia and New Zealand shared information and coordinated enforcement activity to identify suspected offenders and locate weapons.
Firearm Prohibition Orders are one of the tools available to authorities to restrict access to guns. Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, an order can limit a person's ability to possess or use firearms and may provide police with additional powers to check compliance.
The recovery of ammunition and firearm parts is also significant because illegal weapons can be assembled, modified or supplied through criminal networks. Police have raised concerns about the availability of privately manufactured firearms and the challenges these weapons present for traditional tracing and licensing systems.
Authorities say enforcement operations such as this aim to remove dangerous items from circulation, identify people suspected of breaking firearms laws and prevent weapons from being used in assaults, shootings and other serious offences. However, the full impact of the operation will depend on the outcomes of investigations and court proceedings.
Police have not indicated that every person arrested during the nationwide operation was connected to the same criminal network. The arrests and seizures involved separate investigations across different locations.
The operation highlights the continuing focus on illegal firearms in Australia and the importance of cooperation between jurisdictions. Police are expected to continue investigating the seized weapons, including their origins, ownership and any links to other alleged offences.
People with information about illegal firearms or weapons trafficking can contact their local police or Crime Stoppers. All allegations arising from the operation will be dealt with through the relevant legal processes.
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New South Wales Police have reported the seizure of 230 firearms during a nationwide weapons crackdown that ran from 19 to 25 October 2026. The operation involved Australian and New Zealand law enforcement agencies and targeted the possession, supply and use of illegal firearms and other prohibited weapons.
Police said 39 people were arrested during the week-long operation. In New South Wales, officers executed 12 search warrants and laid 111 charges. Authorities also issued 21 Firearm Prohibition Orders, which can impose restrictions on people considered to pose a risk involving firearms.
The items seized during the operation included ammunition, firearm components, imitation firearms, privately manufactured weapons and other prohibited weapons. Police also reported recovering a privately made firearm, believed to have been produced using 3D-printing technology. Authorities have increasingly focused on privately manufactured weapons because they may be difficult to trace and can bypass conventional controls when made illegally.
Investigations in regional New South Wales resulted in charges against two men following searches in South Lismore and Kurri Kurri. The men, aged 35 and 42, were charged in connection with alleged weapons and drug offences. One man was refused bail, while the other was granted conditional bail. The matters remain subject to court proceedings, and the allegations have not been proven.
The operation formed part of a broader effort to disrupt illegal weapons networks and reduce the risk of firearms being used in violent crime. Police agencies across Australia and New Zealand shared information and coordinated enforcement activity to identify suspected offenders and locate weapons.
Firearm Prohibition Orders are one of the tools available to authorities to restrict access to guns. Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, an order can limit a person's ability to possess or use firearms and may provide police with additional powers to check compliance.
The recovery of ammunition and firearm parts is also significant because illegal weapons can be assembled, modified or supplied through criminal networks. Police have raised concerns about the availability of privately manufactured firearms and the challenges these weapons present for traditional tracing and licensing systems.
Authorities say enforcement operations such as this aim to remove dangerous items from circulation, identify people suspected of breaking firearms laws and prevent weapons from being used in assaults, shootings and other serious offences. However, the full impact of the operation will depend on the outcomes of investigations and court proceedings.
Police have not indicated that every person arrested during the nationwide operation was connected to the same criminal network. The arrests and seizures involved separate investigations across different locations.
The operation highlights the continuing focus on illegal firearms in Australia and the importance of cooperation between jurisdictions. Police are expected to continue investigating the seized weapons, including their origins, ownership and any links to other alleged offences.
People with information about illegal firearms or weapons trafficking can contact their local police or Crime Stoppers. All allegations arising from the operation will be dealt with through the relevant legal processes.
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