Since May, police have seized over 40 illegal firearms, silencers, a taser and ammunition as part of an ongoing firearms trafficking investigation. Some of these firearms had been previously reported stolen.

More recently, members of the Crime and Intelligence Command led a search at Parattah on Tuesday 1 September for illegal firearms and were assisted by members of Bridgewater CIB, Southern Crime Management Unit, Firearms Services and the Dog Detection Unit.

A number of items including pistols and a submachine gun, ammunition, a silencer, a taser and firearms parts were seized as a result of this search.

A 63 year old Parattah man was arrested for firearm offences and was subsequently charged with a number of firearms offences including:

• Unlawful trafficking in firearms x 3
• Possess a prohibited firearm x 4
• Possess an unregistered firearm x 7
• Possess firearm when not the holder of a firearms licence x 7
• Possess ammunition when not the holder of a firearms licence
• Fail to ensure the safe keeping of a firearm

He was bailed to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court in February 2021.

As part of continuing investigations, a 57 year old Richmond man was charged with unlawful trafficking in firearms.

The man – who police will allege was operating as a licenced Tasmanian firearms dealer at the time of the offence –  was charged with unlawfully trafficking in firearms and was bailed to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court in March 2021.

“Any illicit firearm is a concern to Tasmania Police,” Detective Inspector Damien George said.

“Firearms in the wrong hands are dangerous and are of utmost concern to police. Firearms trafficking is one of the key emerging crime areas the new Crime and Intelligence Command will be tackling to help keep our community safe”.

“We also take every opportunity to take illegal firearms off our streets by having a permanent firearms amnesty, carrying out random firearms storage inspections and investigating diligently when firearms incidents or thefts occur.”

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission is assisting Tasmania Police with nationwide traces on all the illicit firearms seized to date.

Anyone with information in relation to stolen firearms or illegal firearms activity is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.