Milwaukee: A US man has pleaded guilty to illegally shipping guns to an Australian weapons dealer using a crate with a secret compartment to fool customs officials.

A gun store in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Credit:Sergio Flores

The Journal Sentinel reports that Wisconsin man Andy Huebschmann, of New Holstein, admitted in federal court to sending the Australian dealer pistols, rifles and rifle parts to convert semi-automatic guns into fully automatic weapons.

Huebschmann owns Germantown-based Thureon Defence and is licensed to manufacture and deal guns.

He allegedly met Victorian Paul Munro at a Las Vegas gun trade show about seven years ago, and Munro persuaded him to ship him Thureon guns. Huebschmann didn't have export licences for the shipments.