Manufactured layer by layer using resin or plastic, weapons produced with 3D printers are becoming increasingly common in Brazil’s criminal landscape. Between 2024 and 2025, Brazilian authorities seized at least seven firearms and components illegally made with this technology. Known in the United States as “ghost guns” due to the difficulty investigators face in tracing them, these weapons also raise concerns about falling into the hands of extremists, according to experts.
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Recent Cases
Two of this year’s three confirmed cases occurred in Rio Grande do Sul, where the Civil Police dismantled two clandestine factories. In March, officers seized four 3D printers from an apartment in São Leopoldo, a drug gang-controlled area. The location also contained 59 pistol magazines in 9mm, .40, and 10mm calibers, along with other weapons-related supplies worth R$30,000. In January, police discovered another ghost gun factory in Portão, a neighboring city. According to Chief Ayrton Figueiredo, the weapons were being distributed to criminal factions in the Vale do Rio dos Sinos region. A 23-year-old man, caught in the act, was arrested during the operation.
Other Cases
In Pará, the Federal Highway Police (PRF) and Civil Police seized three 3D-printed rifles on the BR-316 highway in Benevides. The weapons were being transported with 53 kilograms of skunk marijuana by two men disguised in private company uniforms. In 2024, ghost guns, underground factories, and instructional manuals were also discovered in operations across Santa Catarina, São Paulo, and Goiás.
Global Problem
The global proliferation of 3D-printed weapons has sparked growing concern. “The main challenge is that they are nearly impossible to trace because they lack serial numbers,” explains researcher Roberto Uchôa of the Brazilian Public Security Forum. Although the durability of such weapons remains uncertain, Officer Tarcisio Lobato Kaltbach of the 1st Police Precinct in Novo Hamburgo confirms they are just as lethal as conventional firearms.
Organized Crime
Uchôa notes that 3D printers allow criminals to manufacture basic components locally and import only complex parts, eliminating the need to smuggle full weapons. This tactic was exposed during Operation Florida Heat in 2022, which implicated PM Ronnie Lessa, convicted of killing Councilwoman Marielle Franco. The weapons, assembled in Rio de Janeiro, were sold to hitmen, militias, and drug gangs. However, criminal groups still prefer diverted or trafficked firearms, which are easier to acquire and require less effort than assembling a 3D-printed weapon.
Neo-Nazis
Extremist groups have also shown interest in the technology. In October 2022, police in Santa Catarina dismantled a neo-Nazi cell that had discussed manufacturing weapon parts and ammunition in a private online group. Intercepted conversations revealed intentions to carry out attacks on vulnerable populations, including homeless people.
Freely Available Online
3D gun designs are often published for free on social media. Their creators typically justify open access by citing libertarian or anti-government ideologies advocating unrestricted firearm ownership.
No Specific Law
Although Brazil has no law specific to 3D-printed weapons, producing one is a crime, says FGV Law professor Maíra Fernandes. Even gun owners with legal registrations, such as CACs (Collectors, Shooters, and Hunters), are not permitted to manufacture untraceable firearms. Without serial numbers or certified technical standards, these weapons are considered illegal under current legislation.
Analysis:
The rise of 3D-printed firearms in Brazil represents a critical and emerging threat to public security, particularly due to their untraceable nature. Their growing use by organized crime and extremist groups poses serious challenges for law enforcement, especially in regions already grappling with high levels of violence. The ability to manufacture firearm components locally with minimal infrastructure allows criminals to bypass traditional arms trafficking routes, making it more difficult for authorities to monitor and intercept weapons before they are deployed on the streets.
Recent seizures in Rio Grande do Sul and Pará demonstrate how these weapons are entering the arsenal of drug trafficking factions and militia groups. The technology’s accessibility and low cost lower the barrier for criminal actors, allowing even individuals operating independently to set up clandestine arms factories.
