A 56-year-old man will face court today charged with possession of illegal firearms as part of an ongoing police investigation into a stockpile of firearms and explosives discovered in the Bundaberg region.
Queensland Joint Counter Terrorism Team (QLD JCTT) said a cache of firearms had been located in Woodgate in the Bundaberg region by a member of the public in September 2018.
The illegal stockpile included a heavily modified rifle; firearm parts, including a silencer; as well as ammunition, gunpowder and three improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Members of the QLD JCTT commenced an investigation into the origin of the weapon and IEDs in 2020.
As a result of their investigations the QLD JCTT conducted a search warrant at a home in Boreen Point on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on October 22.
A 56-year-old Boreen Point man will appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court today to face three illegal weapons charges.
The maximum penalty if convicted is seven years imprisonment.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations, Scott Lee said the modified weapon and improvised explosives seized in this investigation were troubling.
“Improvised explosive devices in particular are highly dangerous and potentially lethal, not only to the people who are constructing them but also to the public at large should they be used,” Assistant Commissioner Lee said.
“The primary objective of the QLD JCTT is to protect the community, and while there was no specific threat planned in this instance the investigators should be very proud of taking these weapons and explosive devices off the streets.”
Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon, Queensland Police Service Security and Counter Terrorism Command said joint agency collaboration and investigation is critical to securing results such as these.
“The Queensland Police Service remains committed to working with our partner state and federal agencies to keep the community safe,” Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon said.
Police say their investigations into the stockpile of weapons are continuing.
Anyone with information about possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you may think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.
