Guns, ammunition, drugs, cash, and a homemade explosive have all been seized during a series of searches by the North's newest firearms taskforce. More than 19 people had been charged as of Wednesday, with at least 20 guns seized.
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The taskforce was established following a spike in gun-related crimes across Launceston, with at least 11 incidents within a two-month period.
Police had since conducted more than 35 searches.
As well as guns, police had also found a grenade, plus tens of thousands of dollars in cash and a range of drugs including ice, cocaine, and speed.
In one of the latest searches on Wednesday morning, police seized three sawn-off shotguns, and drugs.
During an earlier search, at a home in South Launceston, taskforce members found three pistols, a homemade explosive, more than 1000 rounds of ammunition, drugs, and $86,000 in cash.
A 27-year-old South Launceston man was arrested, charged, and bailed to appear in court at a later date as a result of the search.
It was one of a number of arrests police had made since the taskforce was formed. And so far, the majority of those people arrested were already known to police.
Detective Inspector Craig Fox said removing not only guns, but drugs, and other weapons from the streets was a positive outcome.
And while the guns seized so far had not all been directly linked the recent incidents, he said there had been a reduction in gun crime across the district in the past month.
Before the taskforce, detectives already had strong intelligence in relation to illegal firearms across the region, but tip-offs from the public had strengthened their investigations.
That was why police were continuing to ask for information.
"Our officers are out there every day conducting searches, we are appealing for the information we have been receiving over the past three or four weeks to continue," Detective Inspector Fox said.
In addition to the work of the taskforce, Tasmania Police will host its first major firearms amnesty drive since 2019.
This would allow Tasmanians to hand in firearms without fear of prosecution.
While there was a permanent amnesty in place in Tasmania, Inspector Scott Flude said targeted amnesties had proven to be more successful, with only one or two guns handed in each month ordinarily.
"Each time we have done one of these, we have taken between 50 and 100 guns off the streets," he said.
"Most of the guns that are handed in at the amnesties are unregistered guns that for whatever reason people, when the gun laws first came in, haven't bothered to register them, or haven't had time to go and get a gun licence."
People will be able to hand in their firearms at the following locations on Saturday, May 15 between 10am and 2pm:
- Carrick Community Centre Main Street Carrick
- Newnham Police Station
- Pipers River Fire Station, Pipers River
- St Helens Police Station
For those who cannot make it to one of the locations, police were encouraging members of the public to contact them on 131 444 to arrange collection of firearms.
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