NINE people have been arrested and charged, and 24 firearms seized after a five-day firearm operation was executed by the Warrnambool Divisional Tasking Team, with assistance from the Hamilton and Portland Crime Investigation Units, and the Public Order Response Team.

The operation ran from March 19-24 and focussed on Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) enforcement and firearms storage compliance across the Warrnambool region.

Throughout the operation police conducted nine FPO search warrants, six non-FPO search warrants, and 75 firearms storage compliance checks to detect and seize any prohibited or unsecured firearms or firearm related items.

Police also executed a number of search warrants linked to intelligence relating to illicit firearms, drugs and other offending.

One of the people arrested was a 49-year-old Woolsthorpe man who was in possession of two unregistered longarm firearms, two unregistered handguns, a crossbow, 10 mature cannabis plants, and 3.5 kilograms of dried and packaged cannabis.

The man was charged with possessing a trafficable quantity of unregistered firearms, two counts of possessing an unregistered general category handgun; two counts of possessing an unregistered longarm, cultivating a narcotic plant, trafficking cannabis, and possessing cannabis.

The man had his firearms licence suspended and was bailed to appear in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court in August.

Another person arrested was a 23-year-old Warrnambool man who was caught in possession of an imitation firearm, ammunition, and slingshots.

The man was charged with firearms and weapons offences and was bailed to appear in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court at a later date.

Warrnambool Tasking and Coordination Manager inspector, Josh Tink said the possession of illegal firearms posed a significant safety risk to the community.

“Police make no apologies for turning up unannounced on the doorsteps of those subject to an FPO, or anyone else in possession of an illegal and dangerous firearm,” he said.

“As you can see from this week’s operation, police have absolutely no hesitation in seizing illicit firearms or firearm-related material and putting the offender before a court.

“Unsecured firearms are sitting ducks for serious criminals, and we will continue to regularly check how owners are storing their firearms to make sure they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

“We will continue to run similar operations to seize firearms and other weapons from violent and dangerous people, as well as negligent firearm owners, to ensure the safety of south western Victorians.”