Disguised weapons may be seized by Customs

Press, 7 May 1983, Page 12

Disguised weapons may be seized by Customs

Wellington reporter Knuckle-dusters, knives incorporating knuckledusters, sword-sticks, and any weapon disguised to look like something else are prohibited imports and liable to be seized. The Customs Department

is keeping a close watch on such weapons in response to the wish of the police to restrict the hand weapons available to gangs and criminals. At a recent auction of militaria in Wellington, four ornate sword-sticks were

seized by the Customs Department. Whether they will be returned to their owners, or their owners allowed to sell them, will depend on when they were imported. During 1972 and 1973 the Government issued two Customs Import Prohibition (Offensive Weapons) Orders, as entitled to under section 48 of the Customs Act, 1966. • Weapons described in the schedule of the 1973 order have been prohibited imports since, according to the Collector of Customs in Wellington, Mr K. M. Donovan. If they were imported before 1973 they stayed the legal property of the importer. It was also probably legal to sell them, although the Customs Department was seeking a legal opinion on that. Weapons imported after 1973 were forfeit, he said. They might be passed on to a museum, if an approach was made, but would probably be destroyed. The Minister of Customs had the power to grant bona fide and licensed collectors licences to import such weapons, with the consent of the Commissioner, of Police. Mr Donovan said there had been several cases since 1973 when the Minister of Customs had allowed collectors to import prohibited items. In the meantime, the fate of the four sword-sticks seized at the auction is still in doubt. Mr Donovan said he hoped the matter would be resolved by the end of the month.