Border Force Seizes Blade Assortment at Belfast Airport

If a visit to Northern Ireland is in your plans, you’d better check the country’s knife laws before you go. Several knives, an axe and a sword were seized earlier this week by Northern Ireland’s “Border Force” at the Belfast International Airport, according to reports.


The items were in the baggage of a passenger arriving from London who had travelled from the USA. Officers said the blades were the latest in a series of seizures.


A 22-year-old woman from Co Armagh questioned about the items was cautioned and released while inquiries continue.


It was unclear whether the knives, axe and sword were in checked baggage, though considering the number of items, it would seem highly unlikely for them not to have been.


On a separate flight, two pellet-firing replica pistols found in passengers’ baggage were also seized.


According to John Spence of the Border Force,”It is illegal to bring knives and weapons into Northern Ireland from overseas. Just because you can legally buy an item while abroad does not mean you can legally bring it into the UK. We are determined to prevent lethal weapons reaching our streets and ignorance of the law is no defense.


“Whether you are trying to deliberately smuggle weapons into Northern Ireland or simply unaware of the controls in place, if you are found breaking the law by carrying banned knives and offensive weapons then you will be stopped, the weapons will be seized and you may face prosecution.”

Source: BBC
