Man Tried To Bring Handguns, Ammunition On Flight Leaving VA Airport

DULLES, VA — Customs officials at a Washington Dulles International Airport stopped a man from bringing two handguns, magazines and ammunition onto a flight leaving for Ghana recently without the proper documentation, according to a release.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped a man, who is a U.S. citizen, from attempting to board a flight to Accra, Ghana on May 24, when they discovered two hard shell lock box cases in his checked baggage, according to authorities.

The cases contained Smith & Wesson and Taurus nine-millimeter pistols, two 15-round and two 12-round magazines, and 150 rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition.

When CBP officers interviewed the traveler at the departure gate, he admitted that he planned to travel to Ghana and leave the weapons and ammunition at his residence there. He also admitted to officers that he didn't have a firearms export license.

After detaining the weapons and ammunition, CBP officers requested a licensing determination from the the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security.

BIS notified the CBP on Wednesday that the traveler was required to obtain a firearms export license if he intended to take them to Ghana. The officers then seized the weapons, magazines and ammunition.

“Customs and Border Protection officers want to remind travelers of the importance of complying with federal laws regulating the temporary and permanent exportation of firearms from the United States,” said Daniel Escobedo, CBP’s area port director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C., in a release. “CBP’s border security mission helps to protect defenseless victims by intercepting illegally exported firearms that are oftentimes destined to the hands of transnational criminal organizations.”