DENPASAR: The police arrested a woman from Portugal at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali for allegedly attempting to transport ammunition out of Bali without any legal documents.
The Portuguese woman has been identified as 47-year-old ACRDCF and was arrested at the departure area of the international airport on June 20 at 11.28pm local time.
"We have arrested the woman and further investigation is underway," I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Police spokesman Second Insp. I Gede Suka Artana said on Thursday (June 25).
He said that the Portuguese woman was arrested at a security checkpoint in the airport’s departure area. The ammunition was found by Aviation Security (Avsec) personnel who examine passenger belongings using X-Ray machines.
"The Avsec personnel detected suspicious things inside a backpack that was brought by a passenger who was going to fly to Abu Dhabi," Artana said.
After a thorough examination of the backpack, security personnel found 50 bullets that were still inside a box and wrapped in white tissue in one of the pockets of the backpack.
"It is.22 caliber Long Riffle ammunition," Artana said.
"During the initial investigation, the Portuguese woman admitted that she owns the ammunition.” The Avsec personnel and airport management then filed a report to the airport police about the finding.
The suspect was taken to airport police headquarters for further investigation. The police seized 50 bullets, one box of the ammunition and the backpack.
The.22 caliber Long Riffle bullet is the world’s most widely used bullet and can be used for various firearms, such as rifles, pistols, revolvers and submachine guns. The bullet is a favourite among those engaging in sport shooting and hunting small animals.
"The suspect told police that she is an active member of a shooting sports federation in Portugal. She explained that the ammunition was likely left inside a bag that she regularly uses for shooting practice in her home country and that she was unaware that they remained in the bag when traveling abroad," Artana explained.
She acknowledged that she did not have any valid permit or official documentation issued by the Indonesian government for the possession, storage or transportation of such ammunition within the country’s territory.
The police have collected several statements from witnesses, checking the CCTV footage and seizing the ammunition as evidence.
The police have also coordinated with the Portuguese Consulate in Bali. The suspect will be charged with Article 306 of the 2023 Criminal Code on the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, tear gas, rubber bullets and other dangerous goods.
If found guilty, she could be sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Artana urged all passengers of national and international flights to recheck their belongings before going to the airport.
"Please make sure that all your belongings are allowed to be brought on your flight and do not violate the law for the sake of our safety and security," he said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
