Ex-US Navy Seal nabbed in KLIA with unloaded magazines out on bail, say cops

Former US Navy Seal Ryan Bates was detained in KLIA after authorities found unloaded magazines in his luggage. - Instagram pix

KUALA LUMPUR: A former Navy SEAL (Sea, Air and Land) who was arrested for carrying unloaded gun magazines in his luggage has been released on bail.

Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the man was released on bail pending an investigation.

"He will not be allowed to leave the country while investigations are ongoing," he said when contacted on Saturday (July 1).

According to CBS Austin, US citizen and Navy veteran Ryan Bates was detained at a Malaysian airport on Thursday while attempting to return to home in Henderson, Nevada.

Bates' wife Dianna was quoted saying she had not heard from her husband since he was escorted away at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) late Thursday (June 29) evening.

Bates, 43, is the father of two young children.

Dianna posted an emotional plea on her Instagram account soon after learning about her husband's detainment at KLIA.

"Please help, I need someone at the US Embassy to help Ryan in Malaysia, please", she posted on social media.

It was learnt that Ryan was working with Netflix to film a documentary series entitled The World's Toughest Forces.

Ryan also posted details of his initial detention in a series of videos on social media.

"I'm being detained because I had military gear coming into this country. They're trying to figure out why I have all of this stuff. It sucks," Bates said on social media while Malaysian officials are seen going through his luggage.

"Alright, update – now they are pondering what I have here and coming up with what to do with me. Looking at the magazines right now. It's not looking good," he said in another video.

His last video had him saying that he was going to a police station.