Two Vietnamese nationals were arrested at the Poipet International Checkpoint on Friday after being caught attempting to smuggle 22 air guns into the country from Thailand, police said on Sunday.
Nguyen Hong Phuc, 37, and Bui Van Manh, 26, were detained at the border after customs officials discovered they were carrying 16 air-powered handguns and six longer guns along with 78 bullets, said Chea Da, Poipet City military police chief.
“Our customs officials were checking their goods from Thailand and found those airguns hidden inside their luggage. The customs officials cooperated with our military police to arrest them and confiscated those air guns,” Mr. Da said.
The pair were sent to Banteay Meanchey provincial military police station as officials prepared to send them to court, he said.
Ork Borin, provincial military police commander, said the two men would be sent to court today.
He claimed this was the first time such weapons had been confiscated at the checkpoint.
“This is the first time that our customs officials and our border military policemen have confiscated these air guns,” he said.
