A 38-year-old man from Gosnells has been charged for allegedly selling a 3D printed firearm.
He is due to appear before the Midland Magistrates Court on October 20.
Detectives from the Drug and Firearm Squad charged two men after an investigation into the unlawful manufacture and dealing of firearms that started in April.
A property on Louisa Circle in Morangup, near West Toodyay, was searched where officers seized 3D printed firearm parts; three 3D printed firearms, a 3D printer; and electronic devices containing firearms schematics.
A 59-year-old man from Morangup is due to appear before the Northam Magistrates Court on September 11.
WA Police said they were very concerned about the discovery.
“Our concern is they fall into the wrong hands, they do fire live rounds and they are a risk,” Deputy Commissioner Kylie Whiteley said.
“The issue for us now is that these can be made in backyards and homes, and the concern for us is we’re seeing an emerging trend where that’s increasing.
“We’re certainly seeing an increase in that sort of activity and that’s something we need to make sure that we’re very proactive and working through,” Deputy Commissioner Kylie Whiteley said.
The 59-year-old Marangup man was charged with manufacturing a gun and possessing gun technology without a licence, along with other weapons offences.
The younger man, from Gosnells in Perth’s south-east, was charged with selling a firearm without a licence.
It follows a four-month long operation in which several properties were raided by police.
In June last year, an 18-year-old was arrested and charged with a similar string of offences, including printing a working semi-automatic rifle.
A 3D printed gun is made by printing a firearm frame on a 3D desktop printer and uses standard commercial components like an action and barrel which can be bought as a parts kit.
Authorities have called for a ban on websites which promote the design and printing of 3D printed guns.
