Trying to smuggle hundreds of firearms parts into Australia—presumably to assemble into working weapons once they arrived—has seen a Brisbane man face court on July 18, 2025, looking at up to 10 years in prison.
The 34-year-old, from Joyner in Queensland, was stopped by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in June at Brisbane International Airport for an incoming passenger inspection.
They allegedly found the man, who'd arrived on a flight from the United States, carrying information about the import, including consignment details for nine packages later found to contain firearm parts. The ABF handed the matter to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for investigation.
All the packages, which had been sent to false names at multiple addresses across Queensland and Victoria, were intercepted by the ABF before they could be delivered, and sent to the AFP for forensic analysis.
Police will allege the man planned to assemble the parts in Australia and then sell the guns for $20,000 each.
He has been charged with nine counts of attempting to traffic in firearm parts, each carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said law enforcement acted swiftly to disrupt the attempt to allegedly import hundreds of firearm parts into Australia.
“The AFP and ABF work closely every day at airports around the country to detect threats such as firearms trafficking that could harm the Australian community,” Telfer said.
“Anyone involved in the trafficking of illegal weapons into Australia with the intention of providing them [to] individuals or organised crime groups should be warned—the AFP and our partners are ready and waiting to stop you in your tracks.
“Seizing hundreds of firearm parts before they could be sold on the black market has made all Australians safer.
“Even when criminals use weapons bought on the black market to target other criminals in violent confrontations, innocent bystanders risk being hurt or killed.”
ABF Superintendent Mel Stewart said the operation highlighted the exceptional targeting capabilities of the ABF, which had “worked closely with the AFP across multiple jurisdictions to ensure a coordinated and swift response.
“This case demonstrates the critical role the ABF plays at the border in protecting the Australian community from serious criminal threats. It also underscores the importance of our close partnerships with domestic and international law enforcement agencies in disrupting illicit importation attempts.”
