Police seize prohibited firearms after allegedly finding gel-blaster display wall

Police allegedly found a display wall containing numerous prohibited firearms at a home in Richardson on Friday. Photo: ACT Policing.

After arriving at a home in southern Canberra, police allegedly found a display wall showing off 13 illegal gel blasters.

Offices arrived at a home in Richardson at around 10:20 pm on Friday (21 February) following reports of a disturbance, an ACT Policing spokesperson said.

Once inside, the officers allegedly found a display wall containing numerous prohibited guns.

Police seized 13 prohibited firearms during the incident.

The alleged owner of the items, a 39-year-old Richardson man, was found that night in a car park in Wanniassa.

He was arrested and charged with one count of unauthorised possession of 10 or more prohibited firearms.

The man was scheduled to face the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday (22 February).

After the arrest, an ACT Policing spokesperson reminded the community that replica firearms, including gel-blasters, are prohibited items and it is a criminal offence to possess them.

“We understand many people believe these items are toys,” ACT Policing said on social media after posting the news of the arrest.

“However, gel blasters and replica firearms are designed to look exactly like the real thing.

“They have been used to commit serious crimes such as aggravated robberies where victims rightly believe they are being threatened with a deadly weapon.”