[ad_1]
A woman was arrested after attempting to carry a decommissioned Russian mortar launcher through Dublin port on Thursday.
Tax and customs officials discovered the weapon while conducting a routine search of incoming traffic through the port at 1 a.m.
A pickup truck with an Eastern European license plate stopped for an inspection, at which point officers found a mortar launcher inside the vehicle.
The Army’s bomb disposal unit was called to the scene, and upon inspection, the decommissioned mortar launcher was deemed safe. There was no ammunition accompanying the launcher.
Gardaí from the special detective unit and local stations also attended the scene.
The weapon, a Russian-made KRH 36Y 82mm mortar launcher, was seized for further inspection by the ballistics section of the Garda Technical Office.
A Garda spokesperson confirmed that the driver of the vehicle, a woman in her 20s, was arrested under Section 30 of the Crimes Against the State Act of 1939.
She is currently being detained and questioned at Store Street Garda Station.
Today, the Gardaí are satisfied that “there was no criminal intent” in importing the launcher, the spokesman said. The device appeared to be destined for a private collection in Northern Ireland.
Gardaí is in contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to confirm this.
“An Garda Síochána continues to investigate the importation of this firearm into this jurisdiction,” the spokesperson said.
[ad_2]