Police have arrested and charged nine people and seized 24 firearms as part of a five-day police operation targeting illicit firearms and firearms storage compliance across the Warrnambool region this week.
The operation was led by Warrnambool Divisional Tasking Team, with support from Portland and Hamilton Crime Investigation units and the Public Order Response Team.
It focussed on Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) enforcement and firearms storage compliance. The operation also included a number of search warrants linked to intelligence relating to illicit firearms, drugs and other offending.
Between Saturday 19 March and Thursday 24 March, police conducted nine FPO search warrants, six non-FPO search warrants and 75 firearms storage compliance checks to detect and seize any prohibited or unsecured firearms or firearm related items.
Of the 15 search warrants, police arrested and charged nine people following searches at the following addresses:
Caramut Road, Winslow:
- A 49-year-old Woolsthorpe man was arrested after police seized two unregistered longarm firearms; two unregistered handguns; 10 mature cannabis plants, approximately 3.5 kilograms of dried and packaged cannabis; and one crossbow. He was charged with possess a traffickable quantity of unregistered firearms; two counts of possess unregistered general category handgun; two counts of possess unregistered longarm; cultivate a narcotic plant; trafficking cannabis; possess cannabis, and bailed to face Warrnambool Magistrates' Court on 8 August 2022. The man's firearms licence was suspended, and 19 registered firearms were also seized.
Osbourne Court, Warrnambool:
- A 23-year-old Warrnambool man was arrested and charged with firearms and weapons offences after he was caught in possession of an imitation firearm, ammunition and slingshots. He was bailed to face Warrnambool Magistrates' Court at a later date.
- A 57-year-old Warrnambool man was arrested and charged with possessing cannabis. He was bailed to face Warrnambool Magistrates' Court at a later date.
Atkinson Street, Kirkstall (FPO search warrant):
- A 51-year-old Kirkstall man was arrested and charged with possessing steroids, cannabis and testosterone; and outstanding family violence offences. He was bailed to face Warrnambool Magistrates' Court at a later date.
Gay Street, Warrnambool (FPO search warrant):
- A 58-year-old Warrnambool man was arrested after police located a number of allegedly stolen items. He was later charged with handle stolen goods; dealing in property suspected to be proceeds of crime; and committing offences while on bail. He was remanded to face Warrnambool Magistrates' Court at a later date.
Armstrong Grove, Warrnambool (FPO search warrant):
- A 30-year-old Warrnambool man was arrested and charged with possessing methylamphetamine and cannabis. He was bailed to face Warrnambool Magistrates' Court at a later date.
Otway Road, Warrnambool:
- A 42-year-old Warrnambool man was arrested and charged on outstanding family violence matters. He was remanded to face Warrnambool Magistrates' Court at a later date.
- A 29-year-old Warrnambool woman was arrested and charged with possessing cannabis and MDMA. She was bailed to face Warrnambool Magistrates' Court at a later date.
- A 35-year-old Hawthorn woman was arrested charged with possessing MDMA, cannabis and morphine; and committing offences whilst on bail. She was bailed to face Warrnambool Magistrates' Court at a later date.
Of the 75 firearms storage compliance inspections, police issued six people with notices to improve storage.
Firearm Prohibition Orders are an integral enforcement tool that provide police with specific powers to proactively respond to, disrupt and prevent firearm-related crime in Victoria and keep the community safe.
Once issued, an FPO remains in effect for 10 years for adults and five years for children, which is those between 14 and 17 years of age.
During that time, the individual is prohibited from acquiring, possessing, carrying or using any firearm or firearm-related item such as ammunition.
They are also unable to enter a range of premises including firearms dealers, shooting ranges or firearms clubs.
The charges relating to FPOs are significant - 10 years imprisonment for acquiring, possessing, carrying or using a firearm or firearm-related item.
Quotes attributable to Inspector Josh Tink - Tasking and Coordination Manager:
"Illicit firearms pose a serious risk to community safety and police make no apologies for turning up unannounced on the doorsteps of those subject to an FPO, or anyone else in possession of an illegal and dangerous firearm.
As you can see from this week's operation, police have absolutely no hesitation in seizing illicit firearms or firearm-related material and putting the offender before a court.
"Unsecured firearms are sitting ducks for serious criminals, and we will continue to regularly check how owners are storing their firearms to make sure they don't fall into the wrong hands.
"We will continue to run similar operations to seize firearms and other weapons from violent and dangerous people, as well as negligent firearm owners, to ensure the safety of south western Victorians."
