[Drizzt]

Copyright 2003 Nationwide News Pty Limited
Northern Territory News

January 1, 2003, Wednesday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 1

LENGTH: 237 words

HEADLINE: Arsenal found in airport luggage;
Man held after flight

BYLINE: By CAMDEN SMITH

BODY:
A man was caught with an arsenal of hand guns and ammunition at Darwin Airport after getting off a commercial flight.

The man, Kok Loon Phang, was apprehended by Darwin airport security staff with three hand guns and more than 350 rounds of ammunition. The stash was discovered when his luggage was separated after leaving a Qantas flight from Melbourne.

Federal Government customs inspectors confiscated a 40-calibre Heckler and Koch pistol, an Expert 40-calibre pistol and an additional 9mm pistol.

They also confiscated 150 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 200 rounds of 40-calibre ammunition.

A Federal Police spokesman told the Northern Territory News yesterday Phang claimed to have contacted NT police, seeking advice on bringing the guns to Darwin.

Phang, from Melbourne, did not want to leave the guns at home because of the high crime rate in his suburb. But he did not respond to police advice he should register the guns for travel.

The spokesman said the dismantled hand guns were located in suitcases on December 14.

After being contacted by Territory police, Phang was charged by Federal Police on sum mons with a breach of the Crimes Aviation Act -- carrying dangerous goods without the consent of the carrier. He appeared in Darwin Magistrates Court yesterday and was released without conviction on a two-year good behaviour bond.

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Oy! If that's what they consider an arsenal.........

[4v50 Gary]

Anyone, what's the laws regarding civilian ownership of firearms in Korea?

[Bruce in West Oz]

He appeared in Darwin Magistrates Court yesterday and was released without conviction on a two-year good behaviour bond.

Say what!!! :fire:

If I was caught, for example, with say my Dad's old unlicensed .303 SMLE hanging on the wall at home -- even if I had no ammo for it and had never used it -- I am facing up to 14 years jail time!!

We are currently undergoing another gun confiscation (sorry, "buyback"), based on the following criteria (rimfire and centrefire):

• Revolvers with barrels less than 100 mm
• Semi-autos with barrels less than 125 mm
• Any handgun with a magazine capacity greater than 10 rounds
• Anything greater than .38 cal. (.45 cal. will be available for "special" matches provided you can persuade the Police Minister to approve it. However, .50 AE. 480 etc. are gone, finished ....)

And this guy waltzes in with three handguns (hardly an arsenal, but that's the media for you) and gets no conviction recorded??? :cuss:

Bruce

[fallingblock]

Little Johnny promised us "Uniform National Gun Laws"!:D

[Deadman]

1st. - good to see you made it over to TheHighRoad Bruce. :cool:

2nd. - if this guy is from Melbourne and flew to Darwin, how the hell did he get his pistols on the plane to begin with? :scrutiny:

[Peter Gun]

I think it might be misreported, too. Did you notice they said "heckler & koch .40" as well as "expert .40" ? I'll bet its actually only TWO guns (remember he said they were dissassembled) one of which is a HK expert .40.