Law enforcement agencies across Australia have seized over 440 firearms last week as part of a national week of action.

Operation Athena is designed to target the trafficking and use of illicit firearms throughout Australia and involves all policing jurisdictions as well as a number of Federal agencies including Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence commission, AUSTRAC, Australian Taxation Office, Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Defence Force.

This year’s week of action ran from 26 - 30 August, 2019.

Across the country the following results were recorded:

Senior Sergeant Slape of the Firearms Policy and Recording Unit said “Recent tragic events in the Northern Territory have shown that unfortunately the Northern Territory is not immune to firearms violence. The NT Police is committed to removing illicit firearms from the hands of criminals. Police need the public’s help to reduce the threat of gun violence by reporting any suspicious activity. A firearms amnesty remains current so that anyone with illicit firearms can hand them into their local Police station for destruction”.

Anyone with information about illicit firearms is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppers.com.au.