Three people have been arrested today as police busted an alleged firearm manufacturing ring in Melton.
Detectives from Melton Crime Investigation Unit, with assistance from the Special Operations Group, executed a search warrant at an Oneills Road address about 8.30am.
Two men - aged 33 and 41 - and a 30-year-old woman were arrested without incident.
Officers then searched the property with assistance from Australian Federal Police's specialist forensic search team.
During the search they located and seized:
• more than a dozen handguns and homemade handguns
• firearms parts
• ammunition
• six litres of 1,4 Butanediol
• blueprints
• a 3D printer
• a knuckleduster, baton and knives
• electronic devices and an electrical bypass.
Investigators from the North West Metro Regional Crime Squad, with assistance from the Clandestine Laboratory Squad, then executed a second search warrant at an address on Hawtin Street in Templestowe and located:
• four handguns
• an improvised explosive device
• homemade projectiles
• ammunition
• a 3D printer
• Taser cartridge
• pre cursor chemicals
• firearm components
• Electronic devices
The Melton trio remain in custody being interviewed by detectives.
Quotes attributable to Melton Acting Inspector Scott Williams:
"We dismantled a sophisticated alleged firearm manufacturing ring today and removed more than a dozen illicit firearms from the streets.
"Illicit firearms have absolutely no place in our community, and we are committed to removing them from the wrong hands."
