Pen-gun supply syndicate

I saw these in Kings Cross in 2011.

Detectives disband pen-gun supply syndicate - SCC FAOCS

Thursday, 18 September 2014 01:06:35 AM

Detectives from the Firearms and Organised Crime Squad (FAOCS) have seized more than a dozen pen-guns and arrested two people following an operation in Sydney’s south-west.

Earlier this year, FAOCS detectives formed Strike Force Expedient to investigate a syndicate allegedly involved in the manufacture and supply of pen-guns.

Around midday yesterday (Wednesday 17 September 2014), FAOCS detectives and other specialist police arrested two men at a car park in Carnes Hill. Officers also seized three pen-guns and three knives from inside the vehicle within which the men were sitting.

Both men were taken to Green Valley Police Station, where one of them – a 27-year-old from West Hoxton – was charged with numerous offences relating to the manufacture and supply of unregistered and prohibited firearms.

He has been refused bail to appear in Liverpool Local Court today (Thursday 18 September 2014).

The other man, a 24-year-old has been released without charge.

In court, detectives will allege that the 27-year-old man was involved in the manufacture and supply of pen guns.

The Commander of the Firearms and Organised Crime Squad, Detective Superintendent Mick Plotecki, said the pen guns police had seized were crudely constructed and extremely dangerous.

“These weapons have been made by people with no qualifications or skills in firearm manufacturing,” Detective Superintendent Plotecki said.

“They are crudely built and, as a result, very dangerous – both for the person firing the weapon and anyone in the near vicinity.

“Over the course of this investigation we have seized 14 of these pen-guns.

“We have tested a number of them and, thankfully, many of them didn’t work.

“However, some of those that did discharge a bullet also exploded, meaning they had the very real potential to cause serious injury or death.

“Today’s arrest will seriously disrupt this particular syndicate, but we encourage anyone else out there with information concerning pen-guns or any illegal weapons to contact Crime Stoppers.

“The information you provide could save many lives.”

Police are urging anyone with information about this illegal weapons to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.