Egypt detains airline passenger on flight from New York with luggage packed with weapons

Egypt detains NY passenger with guns in luggage

CAIRO — Police detained an American-Egyptian man who arrived in Cairo on a flight from New York with firearms in his luggage, airport officials said Wednesday.

The officials said the man was taken into custody as he tried to pass through customs with a metal box containing two 9 mm handguns, 250 bullets, several swords, daggers and knives.

The box had been checked and the contents were discovered during a routine inspection upon arrival on an Egypt Air flight from New York’s JFK International Airport in Cairo, according to the officials. They said customs inspectors were then alerted and the man was detained.

He was only identified as a botany teacher.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration confirmed the man had two firearms in the suitcase and ammunition.

The agency said in a statement Wednesday that transporting firearms in checked baggage within the U.S. is permitted if declared to the airline, but noted that other countries have different laws on the transportation and possession of firearms.

A police official confirmed the man was questioned by agents of the State Security Apparatus and the case had been turned over to prosecutors for further investigation.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to reporters.