A coordinated search operation by South Australia Police (SAPOL) at a coastal South Australian property has led to the arrest of two people and the seizure of an unlicensed stockpile of explosives, in a case that has raised serious public safety concerns in the region.
The raid was carried out on Thursday at a residential site located south of Kingston SE, a small coastal community roughly 300 kilometers south of the state capital Adelaide. What started as a planned search uncovered an initial stash of gunpowder and bomb detonators, prompting investigators to call in SAPOL’s specialist Bomb Response Unit to support the operation.
With the assistance of a detection sniffer dog, officers conducted extended searches of the property and uncovered additional hidden explosive materials that were not secured in line with state regulatory requirements and held no valid licenses. In total, authorities seized 18 detonators: 11 naval ordnance laboratory (NOL) devices and seven electrical detonators, alongside the seized gunpowder.
Following the completion of evidence gathering and initial investigations, SAPOL took two people into custody: a 48-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, both residents of Mount Gambier.
The 48-year-old man faces multiple firearms-related charges, including violations of a standing firearms prohibition order that legally bans him from holding or accessing weapons and explosive materials. He did not submit a bail application and is scheduled to appear before the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on the same day this report was published.
The 24-year-old female accused faces two separate charges: possession of unlawfully obtained ammunition and obstructing police officers in the course of their official duties. She has been scheduled to appear at the same Mount Gambier court on September 8.
The case underscores ongoing efforts by South Australian law enforcement to crack down on unregulated weapons and explosive materials, which pose significant latent risks to surrounding communities if left unsecured.