Firearms Squad Targets Cache
Detectives from the Illicit Firearms Squad arrested two people this week and seized 24 firearms. Four of the guns had been reported stolen in the 1990s. Police allege the property acted as a guarded “safe house” for an organised crime syndicate.
Discovery of ‘The Armoury’
Back in March, investigators learned that a large number of firearms were hidden in a location dubbed “The Armoury.” On Monday 22 September, officers executed a search warrant at a Glen Waverley home with help from the VIPER Taskforce. Inside a locked room, police seized 75 exhibits, including rifles, shotguns, submachine guns, and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Several stolen firearms dated back as far as 1997.
Arrests and Charges
Two people from Glen Waverley, a 33-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, were arrested. The man faces 60 charges, including possessing unregistered firearms, stolen goods, and drugs of dependence. He was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 16 December. Police allege he lived rent-free in return for guarding the cache. The woman was released pending further inquiries.
Community Risk and Police Response
Detective Inspector Julie Macdonald said the discovery prevented serious harm. “This armoury of weapons is linked to organised crime,” she said. “Illicit firearms enable drug trafficking, homicides, robberies, extortions, and family violence.” The seized guns will undergo forensic testing to see if they were used in serious offences.
Police urge anyone with information about illegal firearms to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
