Since 9 May, Northern District Police have seized and removed approximately 20 illegal firearms from the community and charged 9 people with firearms related offences.

Detective Inspector Nathan Johnston from Northern CIB said, “Tasmania Police are committed to removing illegal firearms from our community and over the past five weeks around 20 firearms have been seized and 9 people have been charged with firearms related offences.”

• Yesterday, in a joint operation involving members from Southern District, Western District, Northern District and the Dog Handler Unit, police seized 7 firearms during multiple searches. As a result of the searches a 52-year-old man from Punchbowl was charged with firearms and drug charges and a 36-year-old man from Sidmouth was charged with family violence, firearms and drugs related offences.

• On 13 May, police intercepted the vehicle of a person of interest in the Kings Meadows area. Police located and seized a number of items including a sawn-off shotgun, a quantity of ammunition, 200 MDMA tablets and a quantity of cash. A 33-year-old man from West Launceston was charged with several firearms and drug related offences.

• On 9 May, police seized eleven illegal firearms and a quantity of ammunition during a search at a Nunamara property. Investigations into this matter are ongoing.

“Every illegal firearm in our community is a concern – of those seized in the last few weeks many of the firearms were stolen.

“Illegal and unregistered firearms are a risk to our communities, and I urge anyone with information about these firearms to come forward – your information can help police to remove these items from our streets.

“For anyone that has an illegal or unregistered firearm, there is a permanent amnesty in Tasmania and unregistered or unwanted firearms can be handed in to police or licenced firearms dealers without any action being taken.”

Anyone with information in relation to illegal firearms or drugs are encouraged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 330 000. Information can be provided anonymously.