this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2025
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — On a visit to New Zealand, FBI Director Kash Patel gave the country’s police and spy bosses gifts of inoperable pistols that were illegal to possess under local gun laws and had to be destroyed, New Zealand law enforcement agencies told The Associated Press.

The plastic 3D-printed replica pistols formed part of display stands Patel presented to at least four senior New Zealand security officials in July. Patel, the most senior Trump administration official to visit the country so far, was in Wellington to open the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand.

Pistols are tightly restricted weapons under New Zealand law and possessing one requires an additional permit beyond a regular gun license. Law enforcement agencies didn’t specify whether the officials who met with Patel held such permits, but they couldn’t have legally kept the gifts if they didn’t.

It wasn’t clear what permissions Patel had sought to bring the weapons into the country. A spokesperson for Patel told the AP Tuesday that the FBI would not comment.

US FBI Director Kash Patel visits New Zealand, immediately provides local officials with 3d printed, potentially operable firearms...

... which is a crime, that could carry up to a 3 year prison/jail sentence in NZ...

... and would also potentially be somewhere between a misdemeanor and a felony depending on where you are in the US, as 3d printed firearms are generally without serial numbers and are thus 'ghost guns', which are often illegal if unregistered, if not outright banned, though this differs from state to state and city to city.

(Oh also, I guess he is so concerned about properly investigating the death of Charlie Kirk that he is uh, personally looking for leads in New Zealand, or something.)

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[–] viking 35 points 6 days ago

So on the next visit, arrest him for smuggling illegal contraband. And issue an international arrest warrant for good measure.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 32 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

Pistols are tightly restricted weapons under New Zealand law and possessing one requires an additional permit beyond a regular gun license.

Restricting pistols (i.e. the type of firearm most useful for crime and least useful for hunting or militia defense) more than long guns makes a ton of sense, and it's a shame the US doesn't do it that way too.

[–] ToastedRavioli@midwest.social 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

The US does have more restrictions on handguns than long guns in the same way. Youll notice in NZ you cant have a gun in general without a license, which obviously doesnt exist in the US. That said, federal law restricts ownership of handguns more than on long guns. 18 year olds can buy long guns and ammo for them, but cannot buy handguns nor handgun ammo. One has to be 21 or older to buy a handgun. Although legally an 18 year old can own a handgun if they are given it as a gift. But they still cant buy ammo for it themselves

[–] floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 days ago

Also a bit harder to stuff a rifle in your pants

[–] Ghyste@sh.itjust.works 18 points 6 days ago

Because he's a fucking moron.

[–] redwattlebird@lemmings.world 6 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Doesn't the FBI look into issues within USA borders? And doesn't the CIA look into issues outside these borders? I'm confused as to why an FBI office needs to be in Wellington, especially since NZ is a sovereign country. Unless somehow the NZ government is somehow now a state of the US.

[–] Wispy2891@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

Why give up the opportunity to have a fully paid vacation in 5 stars hotels in another continent during a government shutdown?

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

Uhm... yes. Yeah.

I am also kind of confused by this.

The FBI has like... sub offices, attachés to consulates/embassies... but uh... thats for coordinating with local law enforcement and I guess handling US expats.

Yeah I don't know what the fuck Patel is doing here, unless he is kind of just publically admitting that all those other FBI sub offices and attachés just routinely handle Five Eyes / Nine Eyes / However many fucking Eyes type shit.

Which is, I mean, yeah, duh, but also, you're not supposed to just say that outloud, Patel.

You're supposed to be investigating the globalist deep state panopticon world controllers, not fucking building a new branch office for them...

Oh my god his brain must be the size of a walnut, he isn't even good at what he is trying to be good at, holy shit.

[–] apftwb@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The FBI is who you call when you want to investigate (and prosecute) international gangs/drug cartels (which is why he was there in the first place)

The CIA is who you call when you want a country's leader shot with a shard of frozen pufferfish poison.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I mean, the CIA has frequently, with documentation, illegally operated on US soil... often by facilitating international gangs and drug cartels...

But yes, the ice gun with puffer fish poison is also a thing too lol.

Anyway uh, the article says:

News of Patel’s visit caused ripples in New Zealand at the time because the opening of the new FBI office in Wellington wasn’t divulged to news outlets or the public until it had already happened. An FBI statement in July said the move aligned New Zealand with FBI missions in other Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations, which also include the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The office would provide a local mission for FBI staff who have operated with oversight from Canberra, Australia, since 2017, the statement said.

Where are you getting that Patel was there for intl. drug gang investigation?

[–] apftwb@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

Where are you getting that Patel was there for intl. drug gang investigation

https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/01/fbi-opens-first-office-in-new-zealand-sparking-backlash-in-china

New Zealand ministers who met Patel, the highest-ranking Trump administration official to visit New Zealand, quietly dismissed his claims.

A government statement on Thursday emphasised joint efforts against crimes such as online child exploitation and drug smuggling, with no mention of China.

"When we were talking, we never raised that issue," Foreign Minister Winston said Thursday.

Patel said what he said because he is a fucking moron. If Patel lied, he is a moron for creating diplomatic problems for an ally. if Patel didn't lie, he just brought a whole lot of unnecessary attention to a spy base in NZ.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 5 days ago

Ah, ok, I'd only seen the AP article.

Welp.

Yeah, yep, Patel is indeed a gigantic fucking bug eyed idiot, that tracks.

[–] redwattlebird@lemmings.world 2 points 5 days ago

I'm almost inclined to believe that he just wants an excuse to holiday in NZ. Because if it's for spying... Good grief. Have they bungled it up badly.

...I mean, OPSEC IS CLEAN!

[–] anton2492@lemmy.nz 9 points 6 days ago (2 children)

... in Wellington to open the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand.

A what now? Five Eyes not enough? Confused. Recalling rumours of CCP allegedly installing their own law enforcement agents locally.

[–] Killer57@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 days ago

It's the four eyes now, we kicked the United States out unofficially. Seriously, we haven't been sharing information with the United States since before Ukraine did that big drone attack.

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[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 7 points 6 days ago

...and so the arrested him on the spot. Right?

[–] TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 6 days ago

The director of the FBI gives gifts to foreign officials... Which are 3D printed? No money for real gifts? xD

[–] krigo666@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

This is a total dark pattern. The objective is to vilify 3D printing, and have the governments regulate sales of printing equipements, etc.

[–] quackerjo@lemmy.wtf 15 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

I appreciate your cynicism, but I think you're vastly overestimating Kash Money's capacity for subterfuge.

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 9 points 6 days ago (1 children)

His capacity for looking inordinately startled, however, is off the hook.

[–] quackerjo@lemmy.wtf 4 points 6 days ago

Yeah, that shit slaps.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Kash Patel attempting to portray 'innocuous, innocent':

Why do you think I'm a cop, haha! No, I'm down with the chill bro, hip with the bip!

.

..

...

wherestheadreochromefarmiknowyourehidingitinsideofyourpizzadungeonyoubastard

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 7 points 6 days ago

yo losers your loser laws are not for winners like me.

[–] bitjunkie@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I swear to fuck they're using some kind of unhinged sentence generator to make all the headlines these days

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago

It's just AI

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Send that Worm-tongue back to from where he came, good people of New Zealand.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Better yet, into the fires of Mt. Doom.

[–] bitjunkie@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

So you're saying that's not where he's from originally?

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 days ago

Hah, my Tolkien lore may not be quite up to snuff but uh...

... would that even matter?

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