7 May 2009

Dunedin shipment of munitions discovered

10:38 pm on 7 May 2009

Customs officials are carrying out a routine investigation into a Dunedin shipment that was found to contain a cache of munitions.

A bomb disposal squad was sent from Christchurch on Tuesday to examine the shipment, which included grenades, ammunition and mortars, before confirming they were safe.

Customs says the munitions were all disarmed and the investigation is around compliance with Customs regulations.

Under the 1983 Arms Act it is legal to bring disabled munitions into New Zealand as long as they are properly registered and declared to Customs.

Christchurch district arms officer Jason Bruce says people often import disabled weaponry into New Zealand as collectors items.