Police have seized five fully operational 3D printed firearms, two cut down firearms and hundreds of parts during a raid on an alleged illegal firearms manufacturing operation in Kaiapoi.

A 45-year-old man is due to appear in Christchurch District Court today facing multiple firearms charges following the search on Tuesday.

A police spokesperson said officers found five 3D printers at the property, including one still printing when they arrived.

The search, carried out as part of Operation Cross Country, also uncovered 33 rounds of ammunition and multiple digital blueprints for manufacturing firearms and parts.

Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill said the operation had prevented potentially devastating consequences.

“These are firearms and ammunition that will never reach their intended destination, and our community is safer as a result.

“This has been a significant operation and we will continue to seek out those involved in the making and selling of these firearms to stamp out this type of offending, because the consequences could be devastating for our community.”

Among the parts seized were 50 receivers, 34 magazines, 35 suppressors, 23 slides, 28 cylinders, 12 barrels, 64 springs, five foregrips and 107 miscellaneous items.

Hill said unfinished firearms also posed a potential threat.

“Just because some of the firearms are non-operational now, does not mean they would have been in the future.

“It is likely we have prevented a significant amount of harm from being inflicted on the community.”

The Gang Disruption Unit, Offender Prevention Team and Armed Offenders Squad were involved in the operation.

The man faces seven counts of unlawful possession of a pistol, two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, manufacturing firearms using illegal parts, possession of a digital blueprint with intent to illegally manufacture an arms item, and intentional manufacturing of a firearm with no business licence.

“We will continue to investigate and will target anyone who seeks to profit from the harm and destruction that this offending causes,” Hill said.

Operation Cross Country remains ongoing, with a firearms expert assessing all the 3D printed items. Further arrests or charges have not been ruled out.