Crime gangs build untraceable ghost guns, including glocks and semi-automatic rifles
The use of ghost guns is on the rise, with police seizing glocks and semi-automatic assault rifles from crime gangs all over Australia. See the photos.
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EXCLUSIVE
QR barcodes on social media sites like Pinterest are being openly promoted to build home-made but deadly ghost guns such as glocks and semi-automatic assault rifles, according to security experts.
The untraceable guns are becoming a weapon of choice for crime gangs, terrorists and extremists particularly in countries like Australia with strict gun controls, because they can be built secretly, have no serial numbers and no history.
Dozens of ghost guns have been seized across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia sparking concerns that demand is growing while the US Government has announced a crackdown after 20,000 suspected ghost guns were seized by police last year.
Police have found ghost guns and parts made using 3D printers during NSW raids in Bankstown, Punchbowl and Port Macquarie in the past few months.
Ghost guns have been found and used around the world in the past few years including a fatal terrorist attack on a Synagogue in Halle Germany in 2019 and during a raid on a far–right wing extremist in The Netherlands in February this year.
Professor Roderic Broadhurst, who has been studying the rise of 3D printed weapons for the Australian National University, said ghost guns have been found in almost every state.
He said what is concerning is that Australians have such free access to download instructions to build the ghost guns.
“The design files are very accurate they are like a dress design pattern,” he said.
Australian security experts are warning all the resources, including advice and chat rooms needed to build the guns are now available free on clearnet sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Reddit and Pinterest.
The social media sites have been contacted for comment. Facebook has already moved to ban downloadable digital files for 3D printed ghost guns.
A spokesman for Reddit said its “site-wide policies explicitly prohibit the online dissemination of 3D printing files to produce firearms, ammunition, explosives, or legally controlled firearms parts or accessories such as bump-stocks or silencers. Our dedicated teams use a combination of automated tooling and human review to enforce our policies across the platform.”
Risk analysts from Maven Consultancy have warned guns once dismissed as not a viable threat are now much better quality, cheaper and easier to build and which may also appeal to the socially-isolated, young people, and right wing extremists who may have traditionally had limited capability.
“There is an active online community offering guidance and support such as digital files including through QR codes,” a report from Maven Consultancy warned.
“Advanced technology, low costs and readily available advice through chat rooms are making them a weapon of choice,” the report said.
They also reported that the Asia Pacific region is the fastest-growing market globally for 3D printers capable of making ghost guns with Aldi selling them for as little as $499, and professional level printers are available for $559 delivered from Amazon.
NSW Police set up Strike Force Temarang in September last year to investigate the importation and manufacture of 3D-printed firearms into NSW.
NSW Police Drug and Firearms Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Watson said the while 3D printed firearm parts are increasing, they still significantly less common than traditional firearms.
“The manufacture of firearms or firearm parts using a 3D-printer is illegal and carries penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment,” he said.
“Regardless, how a firearm is constructed makes no difference to its ability to cause significant or potentially fatal harm when discharged.”
Victorian Police have seized 11 ghost guns in the last two years.
“It is illegal to manufacture firearms without a licence, and that includes 3D printed guns.
Law enforcement has been monitoring the emergence of this issue for several years. Victoria Police has encountered 3D firearms infrequently, and will continue to monitor and respond to information and intelligence about this issue,” a spokesman said.
In South Australia, police have revealed there have been nine separate incidences in which 3D printed firearms or firearms parts have been located with the first incident occurring in 2020.
“To date a total of five firearms and assorted firearm parts have been seized from those incidents,” a police spokesman said.
The most notable was guns seized from South Australian bikies and crime gangs include 3D-printed firearms and a machine.
In Queensland, police have seized fully functional ghost guns during a series of raids over the past five years. After a gun seizure on the Sunshine Coast, Detective Senior Sergeant Daren Edwards said at the time the guns were of high quality and capable of being fired.
Originally published as Crime gangs build untraceable ghost guns, including glocks and semi-automatic rifles
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