US-based dentist held at airport with ammunition

Chennai, Jan 12 (UNI) Air Customs officials at Anna International Airport arrested a US-based dentist yesterday for possessing bullets and gun lenses.

Airport Customs Commissioner C Rajan said George Thomas Wesley of Andhra Pradesh who had come here for celebrating Christmas with his relatives, landed here on December 23.

Customs officials found 50 bullets and three gun lenses during a search of his baggage.

When questioned, Dr Wesley said he had already declared the ammunition at the San Francisco Airport in the US and was allowed to take them with him.

He said the ammunition was meant for only bird hunting. He claimed he was a member of the rifle club in the US and had a valid gun licence.

He was later allowed to go but not before the authorites took his passport and other travel documents.

Dr Wesley was asked to give an undertaking to present himself before the authorities when asked to do so for interrogation.

Meanwhile, the Customs officials cross-checked the information given by Dr Wesley with the San Francisco Airport authorities and came to know he had not made any declaration of the ammunition.

The dentist had somehow managed to escape the scrutiny of the security personnel there and brought the ammunition with him, Mr Rajan said.

He said the ammunition was sent to the state forensic laboratory here which declared the seized ammunition was prohibited under the Arms Act.

Following this, Dr Wesley was arrested. A local court remanded him in judicial custody, Mr Rajan said.

UNI