Port Kembla arms dealer accused of selling firearms to underworld crime figures

A gun shop owner has been accused of selling hundreds of black market firearms, two of which police claim were used in the executions of high profile crime figures.

Shane James Simpson, 46, was arrested at his Simpson Store in Port Kembla, about 100km south of Sydney, on Wednesday.

At the same time, police raided homes in Jamberoo and Penrose. 

Police allege they have identified more than 300 pistols linked to the small-time arms dealer.

Only 35 guns, including semiautomatic pistols, have been recovered and allegedly linked to organised crime.

Police allege a number of weapons have been matched to past crimes, including several interstate drive-by shootings and two gangland murders in Sydney. 

Shane James Simpson, 46, was arrested at his Simpson Store in Port Kembla, about 100km south of Sydney, on Wednesday

Police allege they have identified more than 300 pistols linked to the small-time arms dealer 

Police said the alleged bust is one of the most significant operations involving illegal firearms and organised crime.

Simpson is alleged to have submitted falsified paperwork to the Firearms Registry, allowing him to turn legal guns into black market weapons. 

Some automatic pistols sold fetched as much as $30,000 in the underworld circuit, police say.

The guns had altered barrels and scrubbed identification numbers in what police describe as a munitions-style factory set up. 

The alterations to the weapons made it difficult to trace the origin of the firearm, police said.

‘Once it was established that these weapons, we allege, were modified and being sold illegally and used in violent crimes, we acted immediately,’ Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith told Daily Telegraph on the arrest of Simpson.

‘But we are still investigating and expect many more arrests will be made.’

As police explained, the alterations to the weapons made it difficult to trace the origin of the firearm (pictured, Glock 34 found during search warrant of Robertson property at Brisbane in  December 2017)

Police have tipped the alleged bust as one of the most significant operations involving illegal firearms and organised crime (pictured, Beretta 92FS INOX found during drug related search warrant)

The arrest was carried out by a task force set up in November 2018 to investigate the movement of firearms between states and territories. 

‘This is the beginning of the end for licensed firearms dealers who are into this sort of illegal operation,’ Assistant Commissioner Smith said. 

Simpson has been charged with more than 50 firearm-related offences and refused bail.

He will front Wollongong Local Court on Thursday.  

Simpson is alleged to have submitted falsified paperwork to the Firearms Registry, allowing him to turn legal guns into black market weapons (pictured, Beretta 92FS seized during drug related search warrant)