NSW Police use X-rays to detect guns and weapons hiding in gangsters’ vehicles

NSW Police have cracked down on Sydney’s gun wars with the use of electromagnetic radiation equipment to unveil secret weapon stashes concealed in gangsters’ vehicles.

Gangsters have become so sophisticated in hiding weapons in vehicles that NSW police are now using x-ray equipment to detect firearms secreted in hidden compartments.

Police have been stepping up their war on illegal weapons for the past year since a gang war exploded on Sydney streets over the past two years.

“Illegal weapons have always been a priority but we now are seeing modern day criminals accessing and willing to use them more than ever and we are matching that with increased enforcement,” Southwest Commander Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said.

“In one recent operation we have found a group facilitating the sale of multiple firearms, some of military grade capabilities and we allege selling them to anyone willing to pay, they also have multiple sources.

“Some of these weapons such as sub machine guns can get anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000. Guns seized recently have no legitimate shooting purpose. These are weapons to kill humans.

Authorities are leaning on x-ray technology to uncover weapons in cars.

“They are exactly the same weapons used in massacres before Port Arthur and since the change in gun laws have no legitimate reason to exist.’’

In one operation earlier this month police found guns that were unregistered, had serial numbers that didn’t exist and some that had been manufactured from scratch.

This year alone police have seized over 17,000 illegal weapons.

Deputy Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said NSW cops use every possible piece of legislation to get guns off the street from Firearm prohibition orders and regular compliance checks for licence gun holders and dealers.

Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“There are overt and covert investigations being conducted year-round by our specialist detectives from the Drug and Firearms Squad,” he said.

“NSW Police is always looking at emerging technology to ensure our methodologies are exceeding the sophistication and creativity of the criminal element.”

He said police had conducted more than 10,000 FPO’s half of them in southwest Sydney, and those targeted were mainly members of organised crime and bikie gangs.

In one vehicle seized police found a sub-machine gun inside a custom made panel of the car.

Gangsters have concealed their guns in secret compartments to make their discovery difficult.

Asst. Comm’r Smith said X-rays were relied on to unveil “hides” which are “very sophisticated customs built into the vehicles”.

“That allows them to move them around so if they are pulled over a normal search won’t uncover them,” he said.

“We are using x ray equipment to scan internal compartments of the cars the same way as AFP and Borderforce use to uncover drugs at ports.’’

Asst. Comm’r Smith recalled a disturbing realisation about a recent seizure of 15 weapons were that the alleged crew were not well know crooks, and “what started as a drug operation uncovered a very active gun supply gang.”

He said the group realised that selling weapons was a very profitable enterprise to supplement their drug operation.