Police considers 3D-printed guns dangerous as they lack serial numbers, registration, or identified manufacturer
Brazilian police have arrested a gang suspected of manufacturing and selling 3D-printed firearms without serial numbers, raising concerns over their use in crime.
The Civil Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office in Rio de Janeiro arrested a gang believed to be producing firearms with 3D printers, which were sold online in Brazil and internationally. The gang head, Lucas Alexandre de Queiroz, was apprehended in São Paulo and is linked to the production of a semiautomatic rifle that has attracted international attention, with such weapons being seized in Australia and New Zealand.
Investigations revealed that Queiroz's firearms were sold across various states in Brazil. He allegedly created an extensive manual—over 100 pages long—providing instructions for others interested in entering the criminal firearms business, which he distributed freely on the internet. This alarming trend has raised significant concerns among law enforcement regarding the potential for these untraceable weapons to contribute to violent crime.
According to law enforcement officials, the capabilities and potential risks associated with the firearms produced by the gang extend far beyond Brazil's borders, necessitating coordination with international law enforcement. The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has expressed increasing alarm over the situation, as unregulated firearms pose substantial dangers to public safety both locally and globally.