31/07/2026
BLUE MOUNTAINS MAN CHARGED AFTER POLICE RAID OF KATOOMBA HOME AND SEIZURE OF FI****MS AND BLUEPRINTS FOR MANUFACTURING GUNS (MOVE FM NEWS)
A 49-year-old man from Katoomba has been refused bail after appearing in the NSW Bail Division Courts on Friday, facing serious charges related to the alleged possession of fi****ms, am******on, and digital blueprints for manufacturing weapons.
The arrest follows a joint investigation initiated when the Australian Border Force (ABF) flagged a report to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) concerning a New South Wales man suspected of producing fi****ms.
AFP inquiries identified the man, and authorities will allege in court that he imported items consistent with fi***rm manufacturing over two years.
On Thursday, police executed a search warrant at the man's Katoomba property. During the operation, officers seized a cache of items including fi***rm parts, imitation fi****ms, live am******on, and electronic devices containing digital plans for manufacturing fi****ms and their components.
The man has been charged with three offences: possessing fi***rm manufacturing material accessed via a carriage service (a federal offence carrying a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment), possessing an unauthorised fi***rm, and possessing am******on without a licence or permit. The state fi***rm charges carry potential penalties of up to five years' imprisonment and a $5,500 fine respectively.
He is scheduled to appear again before Katoomba Local Court on Monday.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Trevor Robinson emphasized the dangers of homemade weapons, stating that the alleged manufacture of unregistered fi****ms is a serious concern for law enforcement.
"The alleged manufacture of unregistered fi****ms is a serious offence that has the potential to place dangerous weapons into the hands of criminals," Det a/Insp Robinson said Friday. "Every illicit fi***rm in the community represents a threat to public safety, regardless of whether it is manufactured domestically or sourced through criminal networks."
ABF Inspector Daniel Beraldo praised the collaborative effort between agencies, noting that intelligence-led targeting was crucial in intercepting the fi***rm parts before they could be used to produce dangerous weapons.
"Through intelligence-led targeting and the efforts of our highly skilled officers, the ABF continues to identify and intercept fi***rm parts, disrupting the manufacture of illicit fi****ms and preventing harm to the Australian community," Insp Beraldo said Friday. (MOVE FM NEWS).
