Customs office presents weapons cache to police

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)