Firearms Licence Holders Charged After Suspected Black Market Trade
- Kieran Watkins
- Aug 29
- 2 min read
Three licenced firearms holders have been charged and police have suspended the licence of a firearms dealer in relation to a black market police operation in the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.
Police from the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) executed search warrants at five properties in the Bay of Plenty and Eastern police districts with the assistance of the Firearms Safety Authority.
NOCG Detective Inspector Albie Alexander says three firearms licence holders and one revoked former licence holder have all been charged with unlawfully possessing firearms.
“Our investigation identified the men, aged in their twenties and thirties, made suspicious purchases of a large number of firearms in the Western Bay of Plenty and Auckland over a four-month period in 2022,” says Detective Inspector Alexander.
“Between them they purchased 50 firearms."
Police say that none of the firearms purchased in 2022 have been recovered and it is suspected they are now in the unlicensed black market.
Police seized 75 other firearms as part of the firearms licence temporary suspension notices served on the three licence holders and the dealer, while their ‘fit and proper’ status is reviewed.
"Offenders will be held to account and placed before the courts,” says Detective Inspector Alexander.
The Authority’s Executive Director Angela Brazier says, “It is particularly concerning that a firearms dealer is part of this investigation.”
“Firearms dealers are subject to higher thresholds of conduct to be considered a fit and proper person to hold a dealer’s licence.”
A 36-year-old man will reappear in Gisborne District Court on 8 September.
Two men, aged 28 and 27, are due in Whakatāne District Court for sentencing on 9 October, after pleading guilty.
Another 27-year-old man will reappear in Ōpōtiki District Court on 30 October.
