Police have arrested five people today following a series of search warrants in the Ballarat area as part of an investigation into the illegal possession and manufacturing of firearms, Victoria Police say.
Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad with the assistance of Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit and Ballarat Divisional Response Unit executed the seven warrants from 5am this morning at the following addresses:
•Rowlands Street Sebastopol;
•Webb Street Ballarat;
•Clissold street Blackhill;
•Albert Street Sebastopol;
•Lawanna Crt Sebastopol;
•Rodier Street Ballarat East; and
•Rodier Street, Ballarat East.
Five people, three men and two women, were arrested including:
•A 21 year-old Delacombe man who will be interviewed in relation to firearms possession and ammunition possession;
•A 51 year-old Sebastopol man interviewed in regards to possessing equipment used to manufacture firearms and firearm possession;
•A 42 year-old Ballarat east woman arrested on outstanding warrants of apprehension and interviewed in relation to possession of a drug of dependence; and
•A 51 year-old Ballarat east woman interview in relation to a drug of dependence.
A 26 year-old Delacombe man was also arrested and will be interviewed in relation to a ram raid at a Daylesford service station on 2 June.
A number of items were seized from the properties including a homemade handgun, assorted ammunition, imitation handgun altered to discharge rounds, homemade silencers, partially dismantled shotgun, firearm parts and equipment used to manufacture firearms including diagrams.
Today’s warrants were also in relation to a series of non-fatal shootings in the Ballarat area dating back to April.
The five people remain in custody and are expected to be charged later today.
One person has also been served with a Firearm Prohibition Order.
