Vienna Police Dismantle Illegal Weapons Trade – Russian Sold Firearm Components
Austrian police special units arrested a 35-year-old Russian citizen in Vienna on suspicion of illegal trafficking in firearm components.
Vienna Police Dismantle Illegal Weapons Trade – Russian Sold Firearm Components
Austrian police special units arrested a 35-year-old Russian citizen in Vienna on suspicion of illegal trafficking in firearm components. The Austrian Interior Ministry announced this on Monday, 13 July. Information comes from TA3.
According to investigators, the man primarily sold locks, frames and other components of the brands Glock, SCT and Lone Wolf. Buyers were able to assemble these parts into fully functional firearms themselves. In some cases, he is said to have sent the components abroad by post.
Police arrested him on 7 July during an attempted sale, in which components worth approximately 4,500 euros were to be handed over. According to investigators, payment was to be made partly in cash and partly in cryptocurrencies.
Austrian authorities stated that the suspect was previously known to domestic intelligence services. After his arrest, he refused to make a statement. A judge ordered his remand in custody.
The case is one of the first significant operations following the tightening of Austrian weapons law, which since 2025 prohibits the purchase and sale of main components of firearms without appropriate authorisation. Austria had previously been criticised as a source of such components for illegal international trade.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stated that the tightening of the weapons law was having an effect: "The tightening of the weapons law is producing results – illegal weapons trafficking is being significantly restricted."
Austria ranks among European countries with the highest number of legally held firearms per capita. In the past year, more than 1.5 million weapons were registered in the country among approximately 370,000 owners.
Source: Google News SK — Crime (sk)