Only one thing is true: either Australia is the most popular place for criminals to 3D print illegal weapons, or the Australian police are best placed to track them down. Over the last 6-7 years, we have reported many times that Australians have been detained on charges of possessing or printing “3D guns” – and that’s the case this time too. Two Western Australian men, a 59-year-old and a 38-year-old, have been charged with six offences, including the manufacture and sale of 3D-printed weapons.
During their arrest, the police seized several handguns, a 3D printer and digital files with assembly diagrams. As reported by 9News, the operation against the man lasted four months and raids were carried out across Western Australia on a number of properties in Wundowie, High Wycomeb and Morangup.
A 59-year-old man from Marangup was charged with illegal manufacture of firearms and possession without a license, as well as other gun-related offences. A younger man from Gosnells in south-east Perth has been charged with selling firearms without a licence. Both will appear in an Australian court this fall.
Based on the photos and video materials published by 9News, it is impossible not to be a bit skeptical about the whole story – at least in terms of the 3D printing of the weapon itself. The guns look very nice, and whoever printed them must have put in the work. Nevertheless, the fact that one of the cheapest 3D printers on the market (by Anycubic) and an equally cheap filament (looking like ordinary PETG and PLA) was used for this purpose proves that the crime is quite home-grown. I’m not saying that the guns produced in this way can’t be used to hurt someone, but I do say that if you wanted to do it “seriously”, it was worth getting better quality production equipment.
Besides, if all four presented guns were actually printed on one 3D printer, it’s no wonder that the operation to apprehend the criminals took as long as 4 months…
Source: www.9news.com.au
Photo: www.police.wa.gov.au