FIBREGLASS is being used to make military-style knives in attempts to thwart checks of incoming international mail, customs authorities say. Australian customs national investigations manager Richard Janeczko said today that customs officers checking international mail had this week intercepted six knives made out of fibreglass resin.
The knives, together with a slingshot and brace, were in an air mail parcel from the US declared as containing clothes and literature and destined for a Sydney address.
Mr Janeczko said the attempt to smuggle the potentially undetectable and prohibited weapons posed "a dangerous new threat''. But despite claims by their American suppliers that the knives were "practically undetectable to modern security devices'', customs officers had been able to find them with specialised equipment, Mr Janeczko said.
They were discovered during x-ray screening at Australia Post's Sydney Gateway Facility at Clyde, in Sydney's west.
Mr Janeczko said no arrests had yet been made in connection with the offence, which carries a maximum penalty of $275,000 and/or 10 years' imprisonment.
I wonder why someone would want such knives. |