A home-bound Chinese tourist was temporarily stopped on Wednesday morning from leaving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by aviation security men for the “souvenirs” he kept in his luggage.
Chinese national Huang Shida, 36, had five bullet casings for a 9mm pistol in his baggage, keepsakes — he claimed — when he went shooting in a firing range with a friend.
According to Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) director, Chief Supt. Pablo Francisco Balagtas, while Huang was not arrested for his possession of empty bullet shells, he was considerably delayed from boarding his China Southern Airlines flight because of the investigation.
Balagtas said that personnel of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) and the Airport Police Department (APD) detected at around 7 a.m., Wednesday, the bullet casings from Huang’s luggage at the baggage buildup/breakdown area of the NAIA terminal 1.
The Avsegroup chief said an x-ray operator from the OTS and duty baggage inspector, APO2 Clarice Robles, noticed items resembling ammunition inside one of the luggage when they went through the mobile security x-ray machine trailer.
APD personnel Robles and APO2 Jesus Dispo immediately conducted a manual check of the baggage and found the bullet casings among the luggage owner’s personal items, prompting them to report their find to the Avsegroup.
Balagtas said that PO3 Adriano Resultay immediately called the attention of the baggage owner, who was later identified as Huang. The Chinese tourist was questioned as to why he had bullet casings in his luggage.
“The passenger was released after investigation. He (Huang) said he kept the empty bullet shells as souvenir items after he went firing with a friend,” the Avsegroup chief pointed out.
Huang’s “souvenirs” were confiscated by the Avsegroup for proper disposition and he was allowed to board a flight home.
Under the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, although empty bullet casings or cartridge cases do not have gun powder, they are part of ammunition and should be confiscated, according to Balagtas.
“The owner of the bullet casings may not be charged for their possession but as a passenger, he will face undue delay and could miss his flight because we have to investigate and document why he has them in his luggage,” the Avsegroup chief said, reminding the public to refrain from placing items banned on airports in their luggage