Mysterious wooden chest is found buried in a Perth suburb during world-wide AN0M stings - and what's inside leaves police STUNNED

  • An tip-off from fake AN0M messaging platform led detectives to an arms cache 
  • The buried wooden chest contained an automatic machine gun and explosives
  • Weapons seizures have doubled across Australia this year because of AN0M 
  • Testing is now underway to link weapons haul to Perth bikie gang or shootings 

By Kevin Airs For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

A wooden chest packed with guns and explosives suspected to belong to a bikie gang has been found by detectives led there by the global AN0M sting.

Stunned police officers dug up the mysterious crate in a Perth suburb to find a huge weapons cache, including automatic machine guns and bomb-making material.

Included in the haul of 16 weapons was a fully automatic Chinese-copy AK-47, an Italian-made automatic shotgun and Powergel explosives.

Forensic and ballistics testing is now underway to see if the arms cache is linked to the local Comanchero bikie gang or any outstanding crimes.

The guns were seized as part of AN0M-linked Operation Ironside in July but Australian Federal Police have now released pictures of the hidden arsenal being discovered by a sniffer dog. 

A wooden chest packed with guns and explosives suspected to belong to a bikie gang has been found by detectives led there by the global AN0M sting (pictured, a sniffer dog leads police to the arsenal)

A wooden chest packed with guns and explosives suspected to belong to a bikie gang has been found by detectives led there by the global AN0M sting (pictured, a sniffer dog leads police to the arsenal)

Included in the haul of 16 weapons (pictured) was a fully automatic Chinese-copy AK-47, an Italian-made automatic shotgun and Powergel explosives

Included in the haul of 16 weapons (pictured) was a fully automatic Chinese-copy AK-47, an Italian-made automatic shotgun and Powergel explosives

Police were tipped off by the fake AN0M encrypted messaging service which was created by police in the USA and Australia to infiltrate organised crime worldwide (pictured, more guns seized by AFP)

Police were tipped off by the fake AN0M encrypted messaging service which was created by police in the USA and Australia to infiltrate organised crime worldwide (pictured, more guns seized by AFP)

'Many of the weapons were found loaded and easily accessible to offenders, increasing the dangers to police and the public,' said the AFP.

They were tipped off by the fake AN0M encrypted messaging service which was created by police in the USA and Australia to infiltrate organised crime worldwide.

It has led to the arrest of thousands of drug dealers, traffickers and gang members globally, including hundreds in Australia.

AN0M messages in Australia revealed more than 90 per cent of death threats on the fake crime platform were linked to local bikie gangs. 

'The AFP and our state and territory police partners, intercepted and disrupted plots to shoot, bash or kidnap both rivals and innocent people,' Detective Superintendent Jason McArthur said.

'The men involved in these gangs are not loyal to each other, they will hurt each other or rip each other off to make money.

'They certainly give no thought to the innocent people they put at risk through their violent crimes.'

Australian Federal Police's National Anti-Gangs Squad has seized almost twice as many firearms this year compared to last in the wake of intelligence from the AN0M sting.

Forensic and ballistics testing is now underway to see if the arms cache (pictured)  is linked to the local Comanchero bikie gang or any outstanding crimes

Forensic and ballistics testing is now underway to see if the arms cache (pictured)  is linked to the local Comanchero bikie gang or any outstanding crimes

Australian Federal Police's National Anti-Gangs Squad has seized almost twice as many firearms (pictured) this year compared to last in the wake of intelligence from the AN0M sting.

Australian Federal Police's National Anti-Gangs Squad has seized almost twice as many firearms (pictured) this year compared to last in the wake of intelligence from the AN0M sting. 

AFP say they have also taken more illicit drugs and more cash (pictured) from outlaw motorcycle gangs in raids this year too

AFP say they have also taken more illicit drugs and more cash (pictured) from outlaw motorcycle gangs in raids this year too

They say they have also taken more illicit drugs and more cash from outlaw motorcycle gangs in raids this year too. 

In total, 99 weapons, including handguns and military-grade weapons, have been taken out of bikie gangsters' hands, up from 51 in 2019/20. 

Det Supt McArthur added: 'The number of firearms seized around the country last financial year and so far this year - almost two a week on average - highlights the access outlaw motorcycle gangs have to weapons that are used to follow through with their violent plans.

'Intercepted communications from the AN0M-encrypted communication platform has provided further evidence that OMCGs are organised crime networks.

AN0M messages in Australia revealed more than 90 per cent of death threats on the fake crime platform were linked to local bikie gangs (pictured, a stock image of Comanchero OMG)

AN0M messages in Australia revealed more than 90 per cent of death threats on the fake crime platform were linked to local bikie gangs (pictured, a stock image of Comanchero OMG) 

In total, 99 weapons, including handguns and military-grade weapons, have been taken out of bikie gangsters' hands, up from 51 in 2019/20

In total, 99 weapons, including handguns and military-grade weapons, have been taken out of bikie gangsters' hands, up from 51 in 2019/20

'[They] exist to make money - generally through drug activities, and sometimes through intimidation and acts of violence.

'The international collaboration between these transnational criminal syndicates causes a domino effect of damage to Australian communities.'

Perth

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