Successful strike against illegal arms trade in Austria!

Successful strike against illegal arms trade in Austria!

On February 27, 2025, a comprehensive Joint Action Day (JAD) took place in Austria, coordinated by the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN). This large-scale operation was aimed at the illegal arms trade and the right-wing extremist scene. House searches were carried out at fourteen locations, during which ten men were suspected of being in possession and trafficking of prohibited weapons and Nazi memorabilia ots.at reported. In total, more than 90 firearms, over ten thousand rounds of ammunition and numerous Nazi memorabilia were seized. The searches took place in several federal states, including Vienna, Burgenland, and Upper Austria.

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner praised the investigation as a significant step in the fight against extremism and organized crime. “This success shows how important professional protection of the constitution is for our democracy,” explained State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried. Loud noe.orf.at The JAD was based on a previous house search in which weapons and Nazi memorabilia had already been seized. The further investigations that led to the discovery of the new suspects are a sign of the tireless work of the judicial and security authorities in this critical area.

Ongoing investigations

The Cobra task force and the Rapid Intervention Groups (SIG) are supporting the ongoing investigations that began after the extensive seizures. Mobile phones and data storage devices were also confiscated during the searches, indicating potentially extensive networking. In addition, six temporary weapons bans were imposed, but the targets were reported to be at large. The continuation of these efforts underlines the determined approach of the Austrian authorities to counteract the illegal arms trade and ensure the safety of the population.