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The deadly weapons seized at Birmingham Airport

A CHILLING cache of more than 200 weapons have been seized from Birmingham Airport passengers – some of them teenagers – in just four months.

The huge haul included a stun gun disguised as a torch, machetes, throwing stars and knuckle dusters tipped with deadly knives.

There was also CS spray, Samurai swords, flick knives, batons and an imitation firearm.

The illegal weapons were part of a blood-curdling haul seized from holidaymakers who brought them as souvenirs on sunshine breaks.

Demonstrating the sun gun, UK Border Agency regional assistant director Alex Lawther said it was a fully functioning torch – but at the flick of a button turned into an electric stun gun capable of delivering a debilitating charge.

“It is a disgusting weapon,” said Mr Lawther. “When you look at them, you could reach the conclusion that the intention is to use them as offensive weapons.

“They are getting more sophisticated. Some quite vicious and could have terrible consequences.

“But when we ask people why they purchased them they often tell us it was as a souvenir and not with any criminal intent.”

Mr Lawther warned passengers they could face prosecution if they were caught trying to smuggle them into the UK.

He said that, while many weapons may have been freely available and sold openly on market stalls in some sunshine spots, they remained illegal in the UK.

Agency officers at the airport have confiscated 230 potentially lethal and offensive weapons from passengers since the start of June.

Mr Lawther said there was an element of ignorance among the public about the legality of weapons and said officers had been trying to educate holidaymakers.

The knives, knuckle dusters and stun gun were seized from passengers coming from destinations such as Bulgaria, Cyprus and other Eastern Mediterranean hotspots.

“Just because you can legally buy an item abroad, that does not mean you can legally bring it back to the UK,” he said.

“Officers’ efforts have stopped these dangerous weapons getting onto the streets.”