Annual Report - COMPLETE - Australian Crime Commission

_________________________________________________________________
Project Narborough
During 2003–04, the ACC focused on gathering intelligence and conducting national
investigations into illegal firearms trafficking syndicates. In June 2004, an intensive
investigation by the ACC and Victoria Police resulted in the seizure of various illegal
firearms and the arrest of a husband and wife in Victoria.
A raid on a property resulted in the seizure of 20 unlicensed firearms, 11 of which
were prohibited firearms, including semi-automatic handguns, semi automatic rifles,
and one MP40 sub machine gun. A large quantity of ammunition was also seized.
Seven of these weapons had been reported stolen from the property during a burglary
in 1997. A further six of the seized firearms with destroyed serial numbers were also
believed to have been previously reported stolen.
Further search warrants executed on associates’ properties resulted in the seizure
of 75 unlicensed firearms, the majority of which were longarms.
This investigation is another example of the excellent working relationships between
national, state and territory law enforcement agencies.
_________________________________________________________________
Additional outputs under the Determination included:
• the provision of a report detailing law reform proposals for state and territory
firearms legislation, supported by ACC operational case studies;
• a media campaign was conducted in July 2003 calling for information and
submissions regarding firearms trafficking. Information has been investigated
and outcomes of those investigations have been disseminated to the relevant
jurisdictions;
• the ACC is organising meetings on firearms trafficking with law enforcement
agencies, ACS and Defence to provide a forum for the exchange of information
and to encourage operational cooperation;
• the Head of Investigations of the Firearms Trafficking Determination represents
the ACC at the Firearms Police Working Group, which is chaired by the
Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department; and
• law reform issues have been identified, and included a comprehensive review of
jurisdictional firearm legislation which has been forwarded to the Commonwealth
Attorney General’s Department and jurisdictions for information and attention.
Determination - Established Criminal Networks (ECN)
The majority of serious criminal activity in Australia is linked to organised criminal
groups. The aim of the Established Criminal Networks Special Investigation is to
investigate the entrenched criminal networks involved in drug importation and
manufacture, money laundering and violence. These groups have both a willingness
and capacity to corrupt public officials, intimidate witnesses and use knowledge of
law enforcement methods to defeat investigations.
58 I ACC ANNUAL REPORT 2003–04