SYDNEY, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- More than 500 firearms and firearms parts have been seized and 45 people arrested by police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) during a week-long operation targeting illicit guns.
NSW Police said on Tuesday that 270 firearms, 89 firearm parts, 19 imitation firearms, 10 privately manufactured or 3D-printed firearms and 130 privately manufactured or 3D-printed firearm parts were seized by hundreds of officers who executed search warrants across the state.
The warrants were co-ordinated under a transnational week of action between Oct. 13 and 19 that targeted illicit firearms across Australia and New Zealand.
NSW Police arrested 45 people who were charged with a combined 206 offenses.
Detective Superintendent John Watson, commander of NSW Police State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad, said that every illicit firearm seized represents lives protected and harm prevented.
"By combining intelligence, resources and expertise, we've not only disrupted criminal activity, we've sent a clear message to those who think they can operate in the shadows: we will find you," he said. ■
