NextFin news, Western Australia Police conducted a five-day operation ending Sunday, October 5, 2025, seizing over 100 firearms and suspending or cancelling 44 gun licences from individuals identified as sovereign citizens. The raids targeted 70 addresses across the state and resulted in seven people being charged with 18 offences related to firearms storage.
The crackdown was prompted by the fatal shootings of two police officers in Porepunkah, Victoria, on August 26, 2025. The officers, Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, were killed while serving a search warrant at the home of Dezi Freeman, a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen who remains at large.
Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the operation was initiated after a review of licensed firearm holders whose beliefs aligned with sovereign citizen ideology. Sovereign citizens typically reject government authority and laws, often refusing to pay taxes or fines.
"We lost two officers in Queensland, two in Victoria, one in South Australia, and one in Tasmania," Blanch said, highlighting the unprecedented risk posed by firearms in private properties. He emphasized that no one is above the law, including those who identify as sovereign citizens.
The operation was supported by intelligence from responsible gun owners who reported concerns about the behaviour of a small number of firearm holders. This community cooperation was crucial in informing police actions.
Police Minister Reece Whitby stated, "If you believe you don't have to abide by the law of Western Australia, then there is no way you can be considered a fit and proper person to be able to hold a licence to own and possess a firearm." He stressed the high risk posed by sovereign citizens possessing firearms.
The raids and subsequent charges aim to reduce future risks to the community and law enforcement officers. The police continue to seek the public's assistance in locating Dezi Freeman, who fled into dense bushland following the shootings in Victoria.
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