By Parker McKenzie
Police have charged a man with a litany of offences after a lengthy police operation on a property on Anderson Street, Ferntree Gully last week discovered a cache of illegal weapons and explosives.
A 34-year-old Ferntree Gully man was charged with multiple offences including manufacturing explosives, possessing explosives, possessing unregistered firearms, possessing distress signals without reasonable excuse, possessing ammunition without a license and possessing drugs of dependence.
Police said the investigation commenced after the Australian Border Force detected an imitation firearm at the border.
On Thursday 7 July, officers executed a warrant around 5pm in relation to a separate firearms investigation and discovered multiple suspect devices. As a result, the Bomb Response Unit attended to the situation. Police stayed at the property overnight until Friday 8 July.
Residents on Anderson Street reported “hearing a bang” around 1pm on Friday 8 June after officers wearing bomb suits entered the property.
Victoria Police said it seized three pipe bombs, explosives, three handguns, firearm parts, swords, ninja stars and conducted energy devices from the property. The man was charged with possessing methylamphetamine and psilocybin.
The man has been bailed and will appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 13 August.
