Man intercepted with ammunition

Thulani Ndlovu
A CITY man was arrested at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport on Friday after he was found in possession of live ammunition during security checks on passengers en route to South Africa.
A detective investigating the case said the man was exposed by airport body scanners as he passed through a routine security check at around 2pm.

Imran Gaibie of number 49 Lawley Road, Suburbs, appeared before magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa to answer to charges of possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate, as defined in Section 4 (1) of the Firearms Act Chapter 10:09.

According to the State, the accused was searched by immigration officials and found in possession of 7.65 x 9mm and .38 x Geco special live rounds of ammunition. The ammunition was found hidden in Gaibie’s jacket.
Giabie failed to produce a valid firearm certificate.

He pleaded guilty, but told the court that he was not aware that he was in possession of ammunition. He alleged that the rounds of ammunition were in the jacket when he bought it.

Ms Maphosa postponed the case to 12 May for plea recording and granted the accused bail.
“You must surrender your passport and any travel documents to the clerk of court. The bail money is set at $200. In addition you must reside at the address you gave to the court until your case is completed,” she said.

Mr Passmore Dewa, the general manager of the airport, said the situation at the airport was normal and no flight schedules were interrupted.

“The fact that ammunition was intercepted shows that our security satisfies world standards. There is no need for panic, the airport is operating smoothly,” he said.

In recent years, security has being tightened across the world due to increased aircraft hijackings and terrorist attacks. A Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on 8 March carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew. The Boeing 777 had left Kuala Lumpur at 12.41am for Beijing Airport but lost contact which air traffic controllers at around 1.22am as it crossed the South China Sea.

Investigators have not been able to ascertain the reason for disappearance or find debris of the plane. Hijacking has not been ruled out.