News / Crime
Police seize huge weapons stash in Brunswick West
Man to face multiple firearms charges
Brunswick Voice
A BRUNSWICK West man has been charged with multiple firearms offences after a police search found a cache of 278 guns on his property.
The 60-year-old man has been deemed not to be a fit and proper person to hold a firearms licence following inspections of his collection last month and again last week.
He was charged last Wednesday with 13 counts of possessing an unregistered firearm, trafficking firearms, and 17 counts of failing to produce a firearm upon request.
The weapons, which include revolvers, semi-automatic handguns and antique handguns, have been seized and will remain in the possession of police until a court judgement is made about their disposal.
Their alleged owner has been bailed to appear in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on May 30. He has also been served with a notice of suspension of his firearms licence with intention to cancel.
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Armed Crime Squad detectives first visited the man’s property on February 27 to inspect his firearm collection.
Police will allege that a number of firearms were not registered, could not be identified, and did not have the correct serial numbers. A number of guns were unable to be located.
Police returned to the property on March 13 following an investigation into the unaccounted for firearms.
Victoria Police and Crime Stoppers recently joined forces in a new campaign aimed at removing illegal firearms from the community.
An Illicit Firearms Squad was introduced in 2020 and the Viper taskforce created in 2022 to tackle organised and gang-related crime have both enhanced the police force’s ability to combat illegal firearms offending.
Police say anyone caught breaching the conditions of their licences or failing in their obligations can expect to have their authority cancelled and to be charged or issued with penalty notices.
More than 1500 illegal firearms were removed from the hands of criminals last year.
