Soldiers smuggle guns
25 April 2008, 09:09 AM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Worthing..
Posts: 7,575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Soldiers smuggle guns
BBC NEWS | UK | Gun smuggling 'common' in UK army
I know we have a few forces people here - So whats the story - Is it common?
I know we have a few forces people here - So whats the story - Is it common?
26 April 2008, 07:45 AM
#2
Umm.. I don't know if I'd say it was common.
Does it happen? Yeah.. but its more of a case of age-old military souvenir hunting than supplying drug dealers/criminals with them; while obviously illegal - its pretty harmless in the grand scheme of gun running.
Its perfectly possible to get acquired weapons deactivated in theater and get them flown home legally as well - its just a case of sorting the paperwork out - depending on area/time of year/local demand, you can buy a good condition Ak-74 for about $150 from the local market.
Does it happen? Yeah.. but its more of a case of age-old military souvenir hunting than supplying drug dealers/criminals with them; while obviously illegal - its pretty harmless in the grand scheme of gun running.
Its perfectly possible to get acquired weapons deactivated in theater and get them flown home legally as well - its just a case of sorting the paperwork out - depending on area/time of year/local demand, you can buy a good condition Ak-74 for about $150 from the local market.
Last edited by Prasius; 26 April 2008 at 07:51 AM.
26 April 2008, 05:11 PM
#4
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Avoiding tractors and OAP's!!!
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Umm.. I don't know if I'd say it was common.
Does it happen? Yeah.. but its more of a case of age-old military souvenir hunting than supplying drug dealers/criminals with them; while obviously illegal - its pretty harmless in the grand scheme of gun running.
Its perfectly possible to get acquired weapons deactivated in theater and get them flown home legally as well - its just a case of sorting the paperwork out - depending on area/time of year/local demand, you can buy a good condition Ak-74 for about $150 from the local market.
Does it happen? Yeah.. but its more of a case of age-old military souvenir hunting than supplying drug dealers/criminals with them; while obviously illegal - its pretty harmless in the grand scheme of gun running.
Its perfectly possible to get acquired weapons deactivated in theater and get them flown home legally as well - its just a case of sorting the paperwork out - depending on area/time of year/local demand, you can buy a good condition Ak-74 for about $150 from the local market.
Wolfie.
27 April 2008, 07:29 AM
#5
I'd have thought a bit of souveniering was a perk of the job.
If you can't shoot some b*astard (who was considerate enough to die for his country) and then pinch his gun - why it's political correctness gone mad if you ask me.
If you can't shoot some b*astard (who was considerate enough to die for his country) and then pinch his gun - why it's political correctness gone mad if you ask me.
27 April 2008, 11:12 AM
#7
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Skunthorpe/Doncaster (UK)
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Its very common for guns from war zones to come back courtesy of her majesty, I think I am more shocked by people naivety at times then the stuff they claim is frightening...
Trending Topics
27 April 2008, 04:53 PM
#9
Scooby Regular
All soldiers, sailors and airmen flying home are subject to the same strict security measures (as per CAA regulations) as any normal person would would get flying from a civilian airport. Equipment in containers are also searched as a vehicles being shipped home. War Souvenirs inc. de-activated weapons are banned and classed as illegal under Military Law and are cetainly not allowed.
I would imagine that it is a very rare occurance if it even happens at all. We all know what the press are like in blowing things out of all proportion.
I would think that Albanian gangsters etc. bring more weapons into the country than anybody else!
I would imagine that it is a very rare occurance if it even happens at all. We all know what the press are like in blowing things out of all proportion.
I would think that Albanian gangsters etc. bring more weapons into the country than anybody else!
Last edited by CyprusScooby; 21 August 2022 at 08:31 PM.
27 April 2008, 08:40 PM
#10
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Lanarkshire
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The only stuff that guys bring back are stuff bought from locals,ie alarm clocks that play the "call to prayer"(brilliant and funny), flags, old currency etc.
I did however manage to get 3 x AK bayonets back by hiding them in the engine bay of my L/R on Telic 2.
Would not try it now though as the checks are more stringent and penalties are high, did hear of a rumour that some daftie tried to go through the baggage check at Basra with a real Gold bar in his bag, don't know how true it is though.its usually ****(cigarettes) that everyone tries to stuff in their bags.
Mac
I did however manage to get 3 x AK bayonets back by hiding them in the engine bay of my L/R on Telic 2.
Would not try it now though as the checks are more stringent and penalties are high, did hear of a rumour that some daftie tried to go through the baggage check at Basra with a real Gold bar in his bag, don't know how true it is though.its usually ****(cigarettes) that everyone tries to stuff in their bags.
Mac
Last edited by bluenosewrx; 28 April 2008 at 12:37 PM. Reason: got wrong Telic, what a clown i am
27 April 2008, 08:47 PM
#11
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: The Shot
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The only stuff that guys bring back are stuff bought from locals,ie alarm clocks that play the "call to prayer"(brilliant and funny), flags, old currency etc.
I did however manage to get 3 x AK bayonets back by hiding them in the engine bay of my L/R on Telic 3.
Would not try it now though as the checks are more stringent and penalties are high, did hear of a rumour that some daftie tried to go through the baggage check at Basra with a real Gold bar in his bag, don't know how true it is though.its usually ****(cigarettes) that everyone tries to stuff in their bags.
Mac
I did however manage to get 3 x AK bayonets back by hiding them in the engine bay of my L/R on Telic 3.
Would not try it now though as the checks are more stringent and penalties are high, did hear of a rumour that some daftie tried to go through the baggage check at Basra with a real Gold bar in his bag, don't know how true it is though.its usually ****(cigarettes) that everyone tries to stuff in their bags.
Mac
I know on Telic 1 there were loads of hiding places on our ERVs. I do know that the checks are generally tight especially seen as the Fecking RAF Pigs STOLE my Kukri claiming it was a war souvenir, I must not have noticed the countless amounts of Gurkhas we were fighting!! They never said anything when i brought it out there. Anyway I'm ranting now.
28 April 2008, 03:03 PM
#16
Scooby Regular
The only stuff that guys bring back are stuff bought from locals,ie alarm clocks that play the "call to prayer"(brilliant and funny), flags, old currency etc.
I did however manage to get 3 x AK bayonets back by hiding them in the engine bay of my L/R on Telic 2.
Would not try it now though as the checks are more stringent and penalties are high, did hear of a rumour that some daftie tried to go through the baggage check at Basra with a real Gold bar in his bag, don't know how true it is though.its usually ****(cigarettes) that everyone tries to stuff in their bags.
Mac
I did however manage to get 3 x AK bayonets back by hiding them in the engine bay of my L/R on Telic 2.
Would not try it now though as the checks are more stringent and penalties are high, did hear of a rumour that some daftie tried to go through the baggage check at Basra with a real Gold bar in his bag, don't know how true it is though.its usually ****(cigarettes) that everyone tries to stuff in their bags.
Mac
29 April 2008, 10:58 AM
#18
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Lanarkshire
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Seen a gold plated AK-47 that got confiscated by us in a search Op(i was in G2 then)
Dont know what happened to it, usually they all went in a container, then broke by the metalsmith and all the ammo went straight in the Shatt.
Prob ended up as a souvenier for uor CO or something.
seen some mad stuff in the early days in Iraq,could not get away with it now though.
Mac
29 April 2008, 12:09 PM
#20
30 April 2008, 10:45 AM
#21
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 39,877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
30 April 2008, 10:53 AM
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Disco, Disco!
Posts: 21,825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
30 April 2008, 01:26 PM
#23
Scooby Regular
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bar-Humbug!
Non Scooby Related
15
17 January 2008 12:54 PM