Sunshine North: Viper Taskforce find multiple guns in raid in Melbourne’s northwest

It reads like a criminal’s Christmas list as police allegedly seize several firearms after an operation in Sunshine.

Victoria Police's Viper Taskforce have seized multiple firearms in Melbourne's northwest

A suspiciously clean vacuum cleaner has led police to allegedly uncover a stash of firearms and arrest two men in Melbourne’s north west.

Police conducted two searches at properties in Sunshine North and Kings Park, allegedly revealing a stash of four firearms including a loaded handgun stashed inside a vacuum cleaner and a sawn-off shotgun which was allegedly stolen from a Lake Wendouree burglary last year.

The VIPER Taskforce allegedly recovered a haul of other items including ammunition, cannabis, gold jewellery as well as an allegedly stolen motorbike and passport.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Street said: “Any firearm seizure is satisfying because it has an immediate impact on community safety,”

“Taking these weapons out of the hands of criminals means they can’t be used to inflict further harm or commit further serious offences.”

Two men, a 39-year-old and a 52-year-old from Sunshine North, were arrested and will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The 39-year-old was charged with possessing a traffickable quantity of firearms, trafficking firearms, manufacturing firearms and drug possession charges.

The 52-year-old man was charged with possessing a trafficable quantity of firearms, trafficking firearms and manufacturing firearms.

Anyone with information about illicit firearm activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.