An alleged methamphetamine lab was raided by Police on Thursday morning uncovering, most notably, a loaded 3D printed gun.

The raid was made by Police near the Gold Coast in Queensland where a recent bill was passed which makes it illegal for anyone to have digital blueprint of a 3D printed gun – let alone a fully printed gun.

At the scene, the officers allegedly found an inactive laboratory which they said was used to manufacture ice.

“We have a printed 3D handgun that is actually loaded,” said Detective Inspector Brendan Smith to The Gold Coast Bulletin.

“And then, throughout the bushland we now have discovered about 10 different hidey holes with different bits of lab equipment and other paraphernalia and what looks like chemicals. We’ve got hollowed out tree logs, we’ve got PVC pipes that are covered in bark so they are hidden out there in the bushland. There’s CCTV footage so you can’t approach the house without being seen.”

Detectives have confirmed that a man with alleged links to the Lone Wolf outlaw motorcycle gang is one of four people to have been arrested, while two women and one man are also assisting police with inquiries.

The 3D printed gun is definitely the most notable of the uncovered items, but police also found; drugs, laboratory equipment and a safe which had been cemented into the ground in the surrounding bushland.

This is not the only criminal activity involving 3D printed guns in Queensland this year, as police arrested and seized 3D printed parts – which they allege could have been used to make up to four guns – from another house in the same suburb of Mudgeeraba in February.

Even with the recently changed laws, an Australian criminology expert has warned that 3D printing technology advances too quickly and criminals are likely to be already in possession of this technology as it is cheap and far less detectable than any other conventional gun method.

Anyone in the area who has any further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers (also on 1800 333 000).