Cache of weapons uncovered at Bentleigh East home and Cheltenham storage facility

A 30-year-old man is accused of manufacturing and trafficking illegal weapons after being caught with 3D-printed handguns and 3D-printed revolvers.

An accused illegal gun manufacturer and trafficker has been busted after suspicious transactions triggered the interest of police.

Members of the illicit firearms squad have hit the man with 27 charges after an inquiry which began with the suspect dealings involving gun and weapon parts.

Some of the counts relate to production of guns on 3D printers.

IFS and Caulfield divisional response unit detectives raided a home in Bentleigh East and a storage facility at Cheltenham on Monday as part of their investigation into the weapon manufacturing.

The man is facing 27 charges after an inquiry which began with the suspect dealings involving gun and weapon parts. Picture: Victoria Police

At the home, they uncovered three firearms, a semiautomatic pistol, an imitation Colt 1911 suspected of being converted to fire live ammo, two 3D printers, a 3D-printed handgun, commercially made gun parts, a large range of ammunition, an array of drugs, $20,000 in cash, a South Australian firearms licence and chemicals used in drug manufacturing.

A search of the storage facility led to the confiscation of three more guns including a privately made 3D handgun, two privately made 3D revolvers, 3D-printed handgun parts, commercial firearm parts, a large quantity of ammunition, bags containing blue and white crystal substances and a fake South Australian firearms licence.

A 30-year-old Bentleigh East man has been charged with firearms manufacturing, possess parts and equipment for manufacturing firearms, possessing a traffickable quantity of unregistered guns and various other firearms, drugs and dishonesty offences.

He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 6.

Detective Insp. Julie Macdonald of the illicit firearms squad said the investigation highlighted the importance of people providing intelligence to police.

“We’ve said it before, but information provided by industry, members of the public, anyone – is invaluable, and we will always act

upon it,” Insp. Macdonald said.

“If you see something suspicious, say something. It can always be reported anonymously via the Crime Stoppers online platform. We continue to work with firearms dealers to ensure reporting of any suspicious transactions or any attempts to purchase firearms or parts outside of the registered firearms licence holder’s categories.”

Originally published as Cache of weapons uncovered at Bentleigh East home and Cheltenham storage facility