Police have slapped a Melbourne man with nearly 100 charges after they allegedly found him with hundreds of kilograms of illegal fireworks.
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Arson and explosives squad detectives initially charged the 38-year-old Craigieburn man with five offences in February.
A search of five properties allegedly turned up 350 kilograms of commercial-grade fireworks.
As part of a continuing investigation, police on Wednesday searched two Craigieburn homes and a Campbellfield business in the city's outer north, allegedly seizing fireworks, firearms parts and a stolen trailer.
They later charged the 38-year-old with a further 95 offences, including 37 counts of possessing an explosive substance, possessing a trafficable quantity of firearms, and possessing an unregistered handgun.
The man was remanded in custody to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Detective inspector Steve Soden said the arson and explosives squad prevented a great amount of potential community harm by seizing the fireworks.
"Firearms are used in the most violent of offending, and commercial fireworks are extremely dangerous in untrained hands as they are essentially explosives," he said.
Victoria Police urge anyone with information about illegal fireworks or firearms to contact Crime Stoppers.
Australian Associated Press
