Annual Report - COMPLETE - Australian Crime Commission

Determination - Firearms Traffi cking
The Firearms Trafficking Determination
commenced in May 2003 with the objectives
of investigating, disrupting and dismantling
fi rearms traffi cking organised crime groups
active in Australia, and improving intelligence
on the nature and extent of the fi rearms
trafficking threat to Australia. The ACC’s
Firearms Traffi cking Special Investigation
represents the collaborative operational
arrangements between the ACC and its law enforcement partners.
Firearms seized by the ACC
The current concerns with fi rearms traffi cking in Australia are refl ective of the
domestic climate, both politically and within law enforcement. The major source of
illegal fi rearms in Australia is the diversion of legal fi rearms from people who have
legitimate access. This is largely facilitated by a small number of corrupt licensed
fi rearms dealers, licensed fi rearms owners/users, as well as people in the private
security sector and various government agencies (for example, defence, law
enforcement and corrections). Organised criminal groups are key consumers of
illegally traffi cked fi rearms.
The ACC has had a major impact on criminal groups trading in firearms in
2003–04. ACC intelligence and investigations, usually in partnership with police, have
dismantled several fi rearm traffi cking syndicates. This included a syndicate in NSW
involved in the production of thousands of lethal and highly concealable key-ring
guns. Most recently, working with police in Victoria, an ACC investigation seized a
major cache of fi rearms and ammunition.
A range of assets including a house, land and vehicles were restrained under state
legislation as a result of fi rearms investigations.
Table 4.1: Output 1.3 – Firearms Traffi cking proceeds of crime forfeited
Measure Total
Assets restrained $1,581,200
Pecuniary Penalty Orders (PPO) $94,000
The use of coercive powers under the Firearms Traffi cking Determination provided
valuable information on fi rearms traffi cking, the location of weapons and information
on organised tax evasion.
ACC ANNUAL REPORT 2003–04 I 55
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OUTPUT 1.3: INVESTIGATIONS INTO FEDERALLY RELEVANT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY