POLICE have seized an arsenal of weapons, high-powered ammunition and explosives from South Australian properties linked to a doomsday cult.

About 90 police have been involved in searches over the past two days of 12 properties owned by a religious sect known as the Agape Ministries of God, which allegedly believes the world is approaching the end.

Detectives today raided a property which was formerly part of the Hillcrest psychiatric hospital at Oakden, where they removed numerous boxes from three shipping containers, the Adelaide Advertiser said.

They also were at Mt Magnificent, where they were searching a dam.

Major Fraud detectives said they had arrested four men and charged them with firearms offences.

The searches have uncovered five unsecured firearms at four properties and ammunition, as well as detonators and explosive fuses.

"A substantial amount of high-powered ammunition was located secreted in the metal frames of bed heads located at one of the premises," police said.

An Upper Sturt man, 46, a Mt Compass man, 49, an Oakden man, 38, and an Aberfoyle Park man, 48, will all face court on firearms offences.

The properties are owned by a religious sect known as Agape Ministries of God, members of which reportedly believe the world is coming to an end.

The sect and its Adelaide leader, "Pastor" Rocco Leo, have featured recently in a Today Tonight investigation.



For local updates on this story, visit the Adelaide Advertiser.