Police to test alleged drug dealer’s ‘phone gun’ to see if it fires

Western Australia police discovered the device while searching an alleged drug dealer’s home - here’s why they’ve sent the ‘iPhone’ away for urgent testing.

An alleged drug dealer has been charged with being in possession of what authorities believe may be a replica gun that looks like a mobile phone.

Western Australia police discovered the device while searching a property on Cassinia St, Baldivis, south of Perth, earlier this month.

Along with the suspicious phone, authorities also seized more than $100,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia, live ammunition and flick knives.

According to police reports, the mobile phone is designed to fold to resemble a replica firearm, which has raised concerns that it may be a disguised weapon.

WA Gang Crime Squad detectives charged a 31-year-old man with a number of drug and weapons charges following a search of two properties in the Mandurah area. Picture: WA Police

Ballistic testing is currently under way to determine whether the device can function as a firearm, and authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation.

Ballistics experts are testing whether the ‘phone gun’ can function as a firearm. Picture: WA Police

The 31-year-old man, who has not been named, was later arrested at a shopping centre in Mandurah on Saturday, where he was charged with several drug and weapon offences, including possession of an unlicensed firearm.

The accused was refused bail and is set to appear before Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.

In addition to the Baldivis property, the authorities also searched another house on Bellingham Parade, Wellard, where they discovered an alleged drug distribution station in the garage.

The police seized more than 1kg of cocaine and more than 160g of MDMA during the raid.

A 25-year-old woman was arrested and charged with possessing prohibited drugs with the intent to sell or supply.

She appeared before Rockingham Magistrates Court on Monday.

Images released by WA Police show that the device found in Baldivis has a striking resemblance to the Ideal Conceal, a pocket pistol that was briefly marketed in the US between 2018 and 2022.

The Ideal Conceal was popular on the US firearms market before it went out of production in 2022. Picture: YouTube

The handgun features two barrels chambered for either .380 ACP or 9mm rounds.

The weapon sparked debate in the US, with pro-gun organisations like the National Rifle Association lauding it as a “great option for self-defence along with max concealment”.

At the same time, opponents expressed concerns about policing and whether children could tell it apart from an actual mobile phone.

Despite being a popular item in the US firearms market, the Ideal Conceal was discontinued in 2022.

Originally published as Police to test alleged drug dealer’s ‘phone gun’ to see if it fires