Logan man charged over alleged 3D gun printing set-up

Queensland police have charged a 56-year-old man from Greenbank, a suburb south-west of Brisbane, over allegations of manufacturing firearms using 3D printing technology. During a raid at his home, officers discovered multiple plastic gun parts, springs, barrels, and three industrial 3D printers reportedly used to produce the weapons. Authorities also seized two fully functional 3D-printed FGC9 firearms equipped with suppressors and high-capacity magazines, along with blueprints and instructions for manufacturing the guns. The man faces charges including possession of a machine gun and handgun, manufacturing a firearm, and possessing firearm blueprints. He is scheduled to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court. Detective Inspector Brad Phelps highlighted the growing threat posed by 3D-printed firearms in Queensland, emphasizing the increasing accessibility of such weapons due to advances in technology. Police have expressed concern over the potential for these untraceable and easily produced firearms to circumvent traditional gun control measures. The discovery underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in combating the proliferation of homemade weapons and the need for proactive, intelligence-led policing to address this emerging issue. This case follows a separate incident earlier this year when two men were arrested on the Gold Coast with 34 3D-printed handguns and 800 rounds of ammunition, illustrating a broader trend in the illegal manufacture and distribution of 3D-printed firearms in the region. Authorities continue to monitor and investigate such activities to prevent the escalation of gun-related crime linked to this new method of weapon production.