NSW Police have arrested 39 people and seized 230 firearms and 33 firearm parts during a week of action targeting illicit firearms.
Formerly known as Operation Athena, the National Illicit Firearms Working Group – consisting of police from jurisdictions across Australia, Federal agencies, and NZ Police – co-ordinated a transnational week of action between Monday 19 October and Sunday 25 October 2025.
The statewide component of the operation was led by State Crime Command's Drug & Firearms Squad, with assistance from hundreds of police and specialist officers across the state and officers from the Australian Border Force (ABF). This resulted in the execution of 12 warrants, the arrest of 39 people, the laying of 111 charges, the issuance of 21 Firearm Prohibition Orders (FPOs), the completion of 163 FPO compliance checks, and 819 safe storage inspections.
In total, NSW Police located and seized 230 illicit firearms, more than 1000 rounds of ammunition, 33 firearm parts, seven imitation firearms, one privately made or 3D-printed firearms, and 79 other prohibited weapons.
Incidents of note in NSW include:
- About 7am on Tuesday 20 October 2026, officers executed a search warrant in Moore Creek where they located a privately made firearm, firearm parts, a crossbow, 2800 airgun projectiles, 1000 steel ball bearings and an amount of cannabis. A 44-year-old man was arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station where he was charged with possess unauthorised firearm, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit and possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Bail Division Court 5 on Wednesday 21 October 2026.
- About 7am on Tuesday 20 October 2026, officers executed a search warrant in South Lismore where they located seven gel blasters, ammunition, knuckle dusters, knives, handcuffs, crossbow, extendable baton and gel blaster imitation grenades. Police also found 31g of methylamphetamine and 1.5 litres of a suspected prohibited drug. A 35-year-old man was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station where he was charged with seven counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, six counts of possess unauthorised firearm, three counts of use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition, possess ammunition w/o holding licence/permit/authority, acquire firearm - subject to prohibition order and supply prohibited drug greater than indictable & less than commercial quantity. He was refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Court 1 on Wednesday 21 October 2026.
- About 6.30am on Thursday 22 October 2026, officers executed a search warrant in Kurri Kurri where they located 188 grams of cannabis, six small cannabis seedling plants, a slingshot, a privately made crossbow, crossbow darts, a replica firearm, firearm parts, ammunition loading device, chemical powders used to make gunpowder and electronic devices. A 42-year-old man was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug, two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit and cultivate prohibited plant greater than small & less than indictable quantity. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Kurri Kurri Local Court on Tuesday 10 November 2026.
- About 5.15am on Friday 23 October 2026, ABF and NSW Police executed a search warrant in Lane Cove West where they located a privately made airgun, ammunition, knives, sling shots, prohibited drugs and steroids. He was taken to Chatswood Police Station, where he was charged with possess unauthorised firearm, two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, intentionally import prohibited tier 2 goods without approval, possess prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug greater than indictable & less than commercial quantity, supply prohibited drug greater than indictable & commercial quantity and possess/attempt to, anabolic or androgenic steroidal agent. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Hornsby Local Court on Wednesday 25 November 2026.
Commander of State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad, Detective Superintendent John Watson said the results demonstrated NSW Police's ongoing commitment to removing illicit firearms from the community.
"Every illegal firearm seized is one less weapon that can be used to threaten, intimidate or seriously harm members of our community," Det Supt Watson said.
"This operation brought together specialist investigators and local police from across New South Wales, resulting in the seizure of hundreds of firearms, firearm parts and other prohibited weapons.
"NSW Police will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners across Australia and New Zealand to disrupt the illicit firearms market and prevent dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands."
ABF Investigations NSW, Superintendent Shaun Baker said criminals are constantly seeking new ways to source firearms, including importing parts and components that can be assembled into functioning weapons.
"The growing use of privately manufactured firearms and 3D-printed weapons presents a significant challenge for law enforcement, but it is one we are actively addressing alongside our state and federal partners," Supt Baker said.
"The ABF is committed to staying ahead of emerging threats and strengthening our detection capabilities to identify illicit firearms, parts and components before they can enter Australia.
"Regardless of how a firearm is made, anyone involved in importing prohibited firearm parts or facilitating the illegal manufacture of firearms should expect to face serious consequences.
"Every firearm component seized at the border is potentially a weapon prevented from reaching Australian streets. Working alongside NSW Police and our law enforcement partners, we share intelligence, target high-risk consignments and disrupt criminal supply chains before they can cause harm in our communities."
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
