Detectives from the Illicit Firearms Squad this week arrested two people and seized 24 firearms - four of which were reported as stolen in the 1990s - as part of an investigation into an organised crime weapons cache 'safe house' which was being guarded by a sitter.
During a separate investigation in March of this year, police became aware of a large number of firearms being stored in a safe house known as "The Armoury", but the location was unknown.
On Monday of this week (22 September) with assistance from the VIPER Taskforce, police executed a search warrant at a residential address in Glen Waverley.
Seventy-five exhibits were seized from a locked front room, including:
- A Sako Model 85M bolt action rifle .270 Winchester reported stolen in Victoria in 2021,
- A Norinco SKS 7.62 x39mm semi-automatic rifle,
- An AR15 semi-automatic rifle,
- A Sako model L579, 220 swift bolt action rifle reported stolen in Victoria in 1997,
- A Sako L461 .17 bolt action rifle reported stolen in Victoria in 1997,
- A Voere Voehrenbach 22LR bolt action rifle reported stolen in Victoria in 1999,
- A 3D printed fully automatic FGC-9 - 3D printed privately manufactured firearm,
- A Lithgow SMLE 1941 bolt action rifle,
- A Lysaght PK Owen M2/3 9mm fully automatic submachine gun,
- A Thompson model 1921 fully automatic submachine gun,
- A "Sten style" privately made fully automatic submachine gun,
- A Ruger model Mini 14 .223 semi-automatic rifle, with loaded magazine with unknown quantity of rounds,
- A Savage model 30 series E 12 gauge pump action shotgun,
- A Sturm Ruger mini 14 .223 semi-automatic rifle, with loaded magazine with unknown quantity of rounds,
- A Norinco SKS semi-automatic rifle,
- A CZ model 457 22LR bolt action rifle reported stolen in Victoria in 2022,
- A Beta Arms Inc SKS semi-automatic rifle,
- An Adler model B220 straight pull 12 gauge shotgun,
- An O. F. Mossberg & Sons Inc bolt action 12 gauge shotgun model 195 KA reported stolen in Victoria in 1998,
- A Remington model 7615 pump action rifle reported stolen in Victoria in 2023,
- A Bolt action rifle,
- A Ruger American 30-06 Springfield bolt action rifle, with loaded magazine with unknown quantity of rounds reported stolen in Victoria in 2012,
- Two x SKS semi-automatic rifle,
- Three x imitation pistols,
- A large quantity of cartridge ammunition in various pistol, rifle and shotgun calibres (in excess of 2000 rounds),
- Various loaded and unloaded magazines, scopes and other firearm parts,
- A machete in sheath,
- Small quantities of drugs of dependence, and
- Various mobile phones and other electronic devices.
Two people from Glen Waverley - a 33-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman - were arrested at the scene.
The 33-year-old man was charged with 60 offences, including:
- Possess traffickable quantity unregistered firearms;
- Acquisition of firearm, except from licensed firearms dealer (Cat A-E);
- Non-prohibited person possess unregistered firearm (Cat A - E);
- Possess unregistered handgun;
- Possess unregistered Cat E handgun;
- Unlicensed person store firearm in an insecure manner;
- Possess a firearm with no serial number;
- Handle stolen goods;
- Possess imitation firearm;
- Possess prohibited weapon;
- Possess drug of dependence, and
- Possess cartridge ammunition.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 16 December.
Police will allege the man was living rent free in the property in return for being the 'sitter' on the weapons cache for an organised crime syndicate.
The woman was released pending further enquiries.
Anyone with information on illicit firearm activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an anonymous report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Julie Macdonald, Illicit Firearms Squad:
"Nobody has a cache of 24 firearms stored in a locked room with a sitter for any good purpose.
"This armoury of weapons is linked to organised crime and there is no doubt these guns would have posed a substantial risk to the community if they were not detected as part of this investigation.
"A number of these weapons had been reported stolen as far back as 1997 and they will now undergo forensic testing to establish if they've been used in any serious offending since that time.
"We know that illicit firearms are a great enable of serious and organised crime - they feature strongly in a range of offending such as drug manufacture and trafficking, homicides, armed robberies, extortions, aggravated burglaries, car jackings and family violence.
"This investigation commenced solely with the knowledge that an arsenal of weapons was being stored somewhere in the state's southeast. Victoria Police will stop at nothing to track down and charge those we believe have the access to and propensity to use firearms."
