Police arrest couple who make firearms with a 3D printer and sell them via the dark web: “One of the largest finds ever in Europe” | Leuven

The Federal Judicial Police (FGP) of Leuven was informed by the French authorities in August last year about an investigation into 3D-printed weapons. These were traded in chat groups on the dark web. “Their investigation showed that several packages containing weapon parts were sent to a home in Oud-Heverlee,” the public prosecutor’s office said. “It also turned out that the central figure, a 26-year-old man with French nationality, was now somewhere in Leuven.”

The Leuven public prosecutor’s office decided to start a mirror investigation. After several months of intensive investigation, the FGP Leuven was able to find out at which location the main suspect was living in hiding and from where he produced the illegal weapons. They demanded a judicial investigation for violations of weapons legislation and criminal organization.

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“A coordinated action was prepared last week in consultation with the French authorities and with the support of EUROPOL. Searches were carried out simultaneously in France and Belgium. The searches in Belgium took place in Leuven and Oud-Heverlee,” the public prosecutor’s office said. Two people were arrested during those searches. Both suspects, an 18-year-old woman from Leuven and a 26-year-old man from France, were arrested by the investigating judge. The council chamber confirmed the arrest of the woman. France requested the extradition of the 26-year-old man. He will appear before the council chamber on Friday with a view to a European arrest warrant for extradition to France.

Nine people were arrested in France, mainly buyers of illegal firearms. “An illegal weapons workshop was found in the house where the couple was staying. During the raid, the 3D printer was printing,” says Lieve Craps, director of operations at FGP Leuven. “Dozens of metal and plastic weapon parts and ready-to-use 3D firearms were seized. No cash was seized. It is disturbing that 3D firearms, which are not traceable, are becoming accessible to the general public in this way. The joint operation can be considered one of the biggest police successes in the fight against 3D arms trafficking and production in Europe.”

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