A 22-year-old Northern Irish woman was questioned after customs at Belfast International Airport seized a bag containing an axe, a sword, and knives.
Border Force officers have launched an investigation into the incident after the “potentially lethal” weapons were discovered on May 9, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
It is believed that the young woman had travelled from the U.S. to London before arriving at her final destination in Belfast.
A UK Border Agency and Border Force statement said a 22 -year-old Armagh woman was questioned about the weapons haul before being released.
John Spence, from Border Force at Belfast International Airport, reminded passengers of travel restrictions.
“It is illegal to bring knives and weapons into Northern Ireland from overseas — just because you can legally buy an item while abroad does not mean you can legally bring it into the UK,” he said.
“We are determined to prevent lethal weapons reaching our streets and ignorance of the law is no defence. Whether you are trying to deliberately smuggle weapons into (the region) or simply unaware of the controls in place, if you are found breaking the law by carrying banned knives and offensive weapons then you will be stopped, the weapons will be seized and you may face prosecution.”
12 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.sirpeter | May 18, 2012, 05:42 PM EDT
Bythebay.You reckon they are ideal additions to the IRA weapons arsenal?That klingon battle sword looks deadly lol.Who do you think the are going to arm with those? I guess the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles must have joined the RIRA.
Bythebay | May 18, 2012, 02:33 PM EDT
An axe, sword and knives, ideal additions to the IRA terrorist weapons arsenal. They've said they'll never give up. PSNI Catholic Officer Ronan Kerr's gruesome bomb murder is a continuing example of their ongoing terrorism which they started and continued for 30 and more years. Northern Ireland definitely has to be on alert constantly for them!
mamaginnty | May 18, 2012, 11:48 AM EDT
After more than 30 years of loyalist, RUC, British army terror on catholics we are at peace, can turn it around Bythebay. A handful of men still trying to cause trouble are not the IRA, and are not supported by the people. Again we have same on the other side as they say. Give peace a chance..all this because the woman is a collector.
Bythebay | May 18, 2012, 09:54 AM EDT
After 30 years of IRA terrorism lashing death and destruction and continuing threats today from the same terrorists, Northern Ireland has to be constantly on the alert and is.
IrelandNorth | May 18, 2012, 08:14 AM EDT
Sir Edward Lord Carson's Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) smuggled in 100,000 rifles and 3 million rounds of ammunition into Larne, Country Antrim, (Ulster/Northern Ireland) in 1913 to resist British Government attempts to "force them to be free" (Rousseau). Good to see Her Majesty's (HM) Customs have finally gotten their act togther in excluding a few exaggerated potatoe peelers.
canadianirish | May 17, 2012, 09:18 PM EDT
Whoa! This doesn't bode well for U.S. airport security. Wonder which airport it was.
Scrivner | May 17, 2012, 09:15 PM EDT
Very appropriate ads on this page for this story!
merefalow | May 17, 2012, 08:11 PM EDT
one is a klingon battle sword,she should have beamed up when she got caught,looks like a collector to me rather than a terrorist,still stupid taking them on board though.
Canadian | May 17, 2012, 12:40 PM EDT
I agree with CMcCloskey56, they appear to be fantasy/hobbyist weapons. The "guns" in the bottom corners of the picture appear to be the covers of books rather than the real thing. Like Errigal, I also wonder how the person made it through security in the US. Everything is X-rayed now, even checked bags.
errigal | May 17, 2012, 11:12 AM EDT
I JUST WONDER HOW SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH CUSTOMS STARTING IN THE U.S.? BRITISH CUSTOMS? I KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR BAGS CHECKED AT BRITISH CUSTOMS BEFORE THEY LET YOU BOARD FOR BELFAST. THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS WHEN I WENT ON TO BELFAST SOME YEAR'S AGO. I SHOULD KNOW. BRITISH CUSTOMS ASKED ME TO MOVE OVER TO A AREA WHERE SOMEONE CAME TO CHECK MY PAPER BAG WHICH HAD BOXS OF CHOCLATES. (FANNIE MAY CANDY) ANYHOW SOMEONE CAME BY AND TOOK THE WRAPPING OF THE 4 BOXS. THEN WHEN OPENED THEY CHECKED THE LAYERS. I OFFERED HIM TO HAVE ONE NOW THAT IT WAS OPENED. OF COURSE HE SAID I DON'T LIKE SWEET'S. I WAS A GRAY HAIRED LADY ABOUT 60 SOMETHING? I THOUGH THIS WAS GREAT BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. I HAVE TO SAY BELFAST AIRPORT WAS OUTSTANGING I ALWAYS FELT SAFE GOING THROUG THERE. GOOD FOR THEM GETTING THIS GIRL. THERE IS NO EXCUSE. THEY DID THERE JOB. ANY ONE WHO TRAVELS TODAY KNOW THE RULES. THANK'S THIS OLD GRANNY IS NOW ALMOST 77. THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS UNANSERED STARTING IN THE U.S. ?
cmccloskey56 | May 17, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT
These are hobbyist weapons - check out the antique sword on the right. It looks like someone's collection for fantasy play. Can't say that about the two guns on the bottom right and left. Still, she should have known better.
RedBranch | May 17, 2012, 10:24 AM EDT
Arms smuggling into NI its in the DNA