Firearms seized by organised crime detectives in SA include a deadly machine gun and plastic handguns made with a 3D printer

Two handguns made with a 3D printer have been seized by Adelaide detectives – along with dozens of other firearms including a machine gun found in a suburban park.

In the first case of its type in South Australia, a criminal has been caught attempting to manufacture semiautomatic pistols using a 3D printer.

The discovery has alarmed senior police who fear the weapons were destined for members of an Adelaide organised crime group linked to the Morphett Vale man.

The two 3D-printed weapons were among 38 firearms seized by Serious and Organised Crime Branch detectives over the past year during various investigations into drugs, organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs. See the full list below.

The two pistols – one complete and the other partially constructed – were seized on March 19 by detectives during a major drug investigation that also uncovered a loaded pistol equipped with a silencer, two rifles and 45 litres of the drug fantasy.

A search of the man’s home also located a commercially available 3D printer and the materials it used to fabricate the individual firearm components.

The two pistols have minimal metal components. Only the trigger mechanism, slide and receiver, short barrel and assembly screws are metal.

The completed 3D-printed semiautomatic pistol and a partially built version that was also seized. Because the guns are predominantly made of polymer plastics, they could be harder to detect by security screening equipment. Picture: SAPOL

The 3D printer allegedly used to manufacture plastic semiautomatic pistols at a home in Morphett Vale. Picture: SA Police

Police ballistics experts are still conducting tests on the weapons, with any charges to be determined following this assessment.

SOCB officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Steve Taylor said the concerning discovery was “clear evidence criminals were now experimenting with producing fully operable firearms’’ using such technology.

“We have not yet seen any on the streets, but they were a fair way down the road with these,’’ he said.

“They look like mini MAC10 machine guns and are a combination of the poly material and also some metal, they have tried to morph it together.

“The person caught with these is someone associated with an organised crime group. They would have been a readily available and sought-after commodity by organised crime groups, particularly outlaw motorcycle gangs.

“It shows the extent organised crime groups and those associated with them would go to in order to obtain weapons.’’

Detective Superintendent Steve Taylor last year with a rifle seized during an organised crime investigation. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

The 38 weapons seized over the past year included heavy calibre revolvers, pistols and rifles, along with shotguns – a number of which had been sawn-off to enable them to be concealed.

The most alarming of the weapons seized was an Owen machine gun that was found on November 11 last year in a backpack hidden in a northeastern suburbs reserve, complete with two full 32-round magazines and a container of petrol. A stolen motorbike was located nearby.

Detectives believe the weapon and motorcycle had been dropped off and were set to be picked up by an individual and used to commit a serious crime.

The Owen machine gun discovered in a Rostrevor park last November. Police recently conducted ballistics tests using this firearm – see the video at the top of this story. Picture: SA Police

On March 11, detectives found another 10 firearms buried in sand hills at Port Gawler, north of Adelaide. The weapons, which police believe may have belonged to an organised crime group, included three shotguns, three handguns – one with a silencer – and four rifles.

The largest haul of weapons was found on April 23 when 11 firearms – six of which were loaded – were seized during investigations into the Nomads bikie gang.

The haul included high-powered rifles, handguns and sawn-off shotguns.

The extraordinary haul of weapons seized on April 23 during an investigation into the Nomads bikie gang. Picture: SA Police

Other firearms were found buried in sand dunes at Port Gawler. Picture: SA Police

Superintendent Taylor said a large number of the seized firearms were found hidden with illicit drugs and large amounts of cash.

“Organised crime groups and OMCGs all seem to have a fascination and desire to own firearms,’’ he said.`

“Illicit drugs, firearms, extortions and standover tactics are the money-spinners for organised crime groups, so there is always an appetite.

“They use them as a form of currency, to threaten or to protect significant quantities of money and to prevent drug rip-offs from other criminal groups.

“And there is always simmering violence between OMCGs. Some get on, but there has rarely been a time there has not been feuds between rival clubs.

“Some clubs have what is known as a ‘bash on sight’ order for rival gang m`embers and it only stands to reason that will escalate from time to time.’’

A gun and ammunition found during the raid on March 19 this year, which also located the 3D-printed firearms. Picture: SA Police

A semiautomatic handgun seized from a man linked to a bikie gang on May 4. Picture: SA Police

Over the past year there have been 25 drive-by shooting incidents across Adelaide – the latest early Thursday morning. Of those, 10 were OMCG-related and six were drug-related.

“And we are familiar with reports of young men presenting at a hospital in the middle of the night with gunshot wounds, usually to the legs – that continues,’’ Superintendent. Taylor said.

“That offending is frustrating because the victims will never co-operate with police, never provide statements and ultimately lie to police to throw us off the correct path. It makes it really difficult to investigate.’’

In another sinister discovery in January last year, SOCB detectives located a cache of weapons – two of them high-powered military weapons – during a drug investigation.

During the inquiry, a Ford Territory and a Holden utility suspected of being used for drug trafficking were searched and secret compartments were found in both. A man, 32, was charged after being found in possession of a handgun, a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition in the utility.

A later search of the Holden utility located another hidden compartment that contained three more handguns, an AR15 semiautomatic rifle, a Steyr rifle and magazines for both weapons.

Detective Superintendent Steve Taylor with the AR15 semiautomatic rifle seized last year. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

This rifle was seized from a male suspect at Sefton Park. Picture: SA Police

“Illegal firearms like these in the hands of criminals groups such as OMCGs are only used to threaten, kill or maim,’’ Superintendent Taylor said

“There can be no other purpose and for those reasons we are seeking information from the public, particularly in relation to the Owen machine gun we found in a public reserve at Rostrevor.

“It is of particular concern that this firearm was found with several fully loaded magazines that each had a capacity of 32 rounds.

“The only question that can be asked of this is why was it placed there and what was it going to be used for. We firmly believe that someone must have information about this firearm and the link with the stolen vehicle.

“The damage a military weapon like that would inflict is catastrophic. With the spray pattern of a firearm like that, the increased danger to innocent members of the community is enormous.’’

He said police were now encountering more firearms that had been modified “in an amateurish manner’’ to make them concealable and there has also been an increase in criminal groups modifying firearms to try and make them fully automatic.

Anyone with any information on the Owen machine gun or any other illegal firearms is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Firearms seized by organised crime detectives in SA include a deadly machine gun and plastic handguns made with a 3D printer