Customs office presents weapons cache to police

TANGERANG (JP): The Customs and Excise Office of the Soekarno- Hatta International Airport handed over 412 replicas of common weapons and 15 paint balls, confiscated in several foiled smuggling attempts since last year, to the police on Wednesday.

Customs official Tonny Sunanto told reporters that the items, including 265 pistols of various types, 38 rifles of various types, 18 arrows, 76 stun guns and mace, had precisely the same shape and weight of real weapons.

The guns were smuggled into Jakarta on different occasions by at least 10 individuals, he said, giving no details on the status of the people.

"I don't know whether they are professionals or not. The police will investigate the case."

The replicas were mostly shipped from Germany, Japan and the United States, he said.

According to Tonny, the shipment of guns which are identical to real weapons is prohibited under Law No. 12/1951 on weapons.

Several confiscated items were identical to FN 45, M 16, M 60 and MP 4 weapons.

Meanwhile Maj. Tri Ananto, a police officer at the Weapon and Explosion Material Supervision unit of the Jakarta Police, said the alleged smugglers were not detained.

Instead, they would be allowed to take possession of the guns from the police once they had completed the proper legal documents, he said.

Owners of such replicas, he said, should follow the rules similar to those possessing the real guns.

Tri said that smuggling attempts for replicas had increased significantly in the past few months due to growing fears among the public about their safety.

"Only rich people or those who feel extremely threatened want to buy such weapons," he said.

The price of a tear gas pistol, complete with legal documents, can reach between Rp 22 million and Rp 24 million each.

"The weapons can be bought at many official agents here," he said. (41/jun)