Jailed for smuggling weapons into UK
A man who attempted to bring a haul of offensive weapons through Newcastle Airport has been jailed.
Craig Dalkin, 23, was stopped by Border Force officers at the airport after landing on a flight from Bourgas, Bulgaria, on 11 June this year. A search of his suitcase revealed the following weapons:
- A stun gun
- Two CS gas canisters
- Two knuckle dusters
- Two knives
- An extendable baton
- A laser pen
In interview Dalkin, of Toronto Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland, claimed the knives were for fishing and that the knuckle dusters were ornaments. He told officers he did not realise he had purchased the stun gun or gas canisters as he thought they were a lighter and dog repellent, respectively.
Smuggling weapons
Dalkin pleaded guilty to attempting to import an offensive weapon at an earlier hearing. He was jailed for two years at Newcastle Crown court today.
Malcolm Bragg, Assistant Director at Border Force, said: ‘Weapons such as these are designed to inflict serious injury or even to kill. We have strong controls at all our borders to protect the public from these evil items.
‘The sentence handed out to day reflects the seriousness of this offence. There is simply no excuse for having items of this nature in your luggage.
‘The message to anyone thinking of bringing offensive weapons into the UK is very clear. Border Force will catch and prosecute you, and you will be sent to jail.’
Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling can call the smuggling hotline on 0800 59 5000.