Feds bust passenger at Detroit airport with bullet-proof vest, weapons cache at US residence
DETROIT _ An airline passenger who denied bringing any prohibited items into the United States didn't get one foot outside Detroit Metro Airport after border agents took a closer look at his luggage: He was hauling body armor that led to an even bigger discovery.
Authorities said the man had a weapons cache at his metro Detroit residence, complete with high capacity magazines and "bump-stock" devices.
As a result, the government said, he was rerouted back to China on the next flight out, declared inadmissible to the U.S.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection disclosed this information in a news release Friday, in which it explained how CBP agents made the discovery, which happened on Aug. 18.
CBP did not provide the traveler's name, age, residency or explain why he had a residence in the U.S. _ only that he arrived at Detroit Metro Airport and wasn't truthful when asked whether he had anything to declare that was prohibited.
According to CBP, when first encountered by airport agents, the passenger gave a negative declaration to carrying any prohibited items. But when CBP officers checked his luggage, they "discovered undeclared ballistic armor and other tactical apparel."
Specifically, he was transporting a bullet proof vest, they said. That raised red flags and prompted the officers to obtain a search warrant, which led investigators to the man's residence.
There, CBP officers discovered evidence that the traveler possessed "a significant cache of firearms and other regulated paraphernalia," the CBP stated.
CBP officers determined the passenger was inadmissible to the United States and subsequently returned him to China. The case remains under investigation.
_Detroit Free Press
