Japanese traveling with shotgun nabbed at NAIA

A Japanese national was arrested by Bureau of Customs (BOC) police operatives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) yesterday after he was caught bringing into the country a shotgun as well as live ammunition.

Ricardo Belmonte, NAIA-BOC district collector, identified the arrested suspect as Masao Nakajima, who arrived at around 1 p.m. from Narita, Japan on Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR 431.

Belmonte said Nakajima was collared after his bags yielded the shotgun as well as 700 rounds of live ammunition.

It was learned that the BOC immediately coordinated with a representative of the Japanese Embassy in connection with Nakajima’s detention.

BOC-NAIA Collector Carmelita Talusan said that upon arrest, Nakajima presented a supposed gun export permit from Japan.

Talusan, however, pointed out that for Nakajima to lawfully bring a firearm into the country, he should first have secured an export permit from the Firearms and Explosives Division of the Philippine National Police.

"What is important is that he should have a permit or an authorization to carry in firearm from the PNP-FEO," Talusan told The STAR. "As per verification with the PNP, wala talaga siyang permit to bring in firearm."

Talusan said that they could charge Nakajima with firearm smuggling.

It was learned that Nakajima, who is married to a Filipina, also showed to NAIA Customs people a PNP-National Capital Region firing range coordinator’s identification card.