Sydney man jailed for importing gun parts

This is a joint release with the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force.

Editor's note: Vision of the arrest and gun parts are available via Hightail

A man, 47, from Sydney's outer northern suburbs has been sentenced to nearly seven years' jail for unlawfully importing firearms parts and possessing ammunition and unregistered firearms.

The Berowra man pleaded guilty to importing the gun components in three packages sent from the US in 2019 that were labelled as car parts.

The packages, which were identified by the Australian Border Force (ABF) at the Sydney Gateway Facility in 2019, contained two barrels and a frame for a Sig Sauer handgun, upper and lower receivers for an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and triggers for a firearm.

The detection was referred to the AFP and the joint investigation was launched.

Last month (28 April, 2023), the man faced Sydney District Court where he pleaded guilty to the following offences:

• Two counts of intentionally importing tier 2 goods without approval, contrary to section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth);
• One count of possessing more than three unregistered firearms, contrary to section 51D(2) of the Firearms Act 1996 (Cth);
• Four counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, contrary to section 7(1) of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 (NSW);
• One count of acquiring a firearm part, contrary to section 50AA(1) of the Firearms Act 1996 (NSW); and
• Six counts of acquiring a firearm part, contrary to section 50AA(2) of the Firearms Act 1996 (NSW).

He was sentenced to two years and nine months' imprisonment with a non-parole period of one year and five months for the Commonwealth offences, and four years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years for the state offences.

AFP Acting Commander Craig Bellis said members from the firearms identification and armoury team conducted an expert forensic interrogation of the parts to determine their operability.

"The interrogation confirmed that the parts were fully operational and could be formed into multiple working firearms, including an AR15/M4 Platform Rifle, 12 Gauge Western Field Pump Action Shotgun and Sig Sauer pistols," Acting Commander Bellis said.

"The identification and seizure of these packages was significant in preserving the safety of the Australian public and removing a significant amount of potential illegal firearms from the community."

ABF Acting Commander Trade and Travel Operations East, Mal Nimmo said his team remains alert to the attempted importation of guns and gun parts that put Australian lives in danger.

"The ABF works tirelessly with its partners at the border to ensure dangerous goods don't reach our communities," Acting Commander Nimmo said.

"Criminals are increasingly importing firearm parts with the aim of putting together completed guns here in Australia but ABF officers use advanced analytical techniques and technology to disrupt this supply."

Further details into the Australian Border Force detection of the illegal items and his arrest at Sydney International Airport are available via the initial media release.

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ABF Media: (02) 6264 2244

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