Elderly Swiss man busted with gun at Phuket Airport

[snoop1130]

 

An 82 year old Swiss man was arrested at Phuket International Airport after security found a handgun tucked away in his luggage.

 

The Swiss national, Kurt Fritz Loliger, a seemingly unassuming pensioner, was stopped at Gate 81 of the International Passenger Terminal last night, October 7.

 

The drama unfolded around 8.30pm when Ainah Pango, an X-ray image officer, spotted something suspicious during a routine scan. A closer inspection revealed it was a handgun—a short-barrel ASTRA cal 6.35 a25 model. Baggage check officer Phakhanat Dumlak immediately called in the police, who confirmed the disturbing find.

Loliger was swiftly detained and handed over to the Sakhu Police for further investigation. It remains unclear how the elderly Swiss national came into possession of the firearm or what his intentions were.

 

With airport security being a top priority, this incident has raised serious concerns. Phuket International Airport has strict policies regarding the possession of firearms, and Loliger could face severe legal consequences, reported Phuket News.

 

“We take these matters very seriously. No one is above the law, no matter their age or nationality.”

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Phuket News

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-10-08

 

 

[brianthainess]

I wonder if it was in his carry on, luggage or checked in luggage. 

[richard_smith237]

6 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

With airport security being a top priority

 

More-so than reporting - Was he caught with the gun in his baggage leaving or arriving ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[brianthainess]

6 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Phuket International Airport has strict policies regarding the possession of firearms, and Loliger could face severe legal consequences, reported Phuket News.

Shame the whole country doesn't have 'severe consequences' for all gun possession. 

[brianthainess]

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

More-so than reporting - Was he caught with the gun in his baggage leaving or arriving ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess it was leaving as he was caught at Gate 81. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

27 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

An 82 year old Swiss man was arrested at Phuket International Airport after security found a handgun tucked away in his luggage.

stopped at Gate 81 

Just your average plane hijacker. 

 

Maybe a friend of that crazy Swiss elephant guy from Phuket. 

 

[Tropicalevo]

Confusing - lacking a bit of detail.

And why is his T shirt fuzzed out?

[roo860]

5 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Just your average plane hijacker. 

 

 

Come on, we've all forgotten about the gun in our carry-on bag!😁😁

[steven100]

27 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

who confirmed the disturbing find.

 

they are joking right  '   ....   every damn kid here has a gun under his motorbike seat for crying out aloud.  

 

Why is this a big fuss .....   go and stop 10 kids and I bet you'll get at least 5 guns. 

 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

2 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

And why is his T shirt fuzzed out?

Hezbollah flag 

 

[steven100]

30 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“We take these matters very seriously. No one is above the law, no matter their age or nationality.”

 

 

well how about cleaning up your own backyard   !!

[ukrules]

36 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

With airport security being a top priority, this incident has raised serious concerns.

 

Why the 'serious concerns' ? This just proves the security system works.

 

According to other sources the gun was in his 'suitcase' suggesting the checked baggage.
 

So not even a security concern really.

[bokningar]

47 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

 No one is above the law, no matter their age or nationality

 

Did anyone tell Thaksin Shinawatra that?

[cjinchiangrai]

47 minutes ago, ukrules said:

 

Why the 'serious concerns' ? This just proves the security system works.

 

According to other sources the gun was in his 'suitcase' suggesting the checked baggage.
 

So not even a security concern really.

My read as well, he was at the gate and his bas was downstairs in the X-Ray machine. Not a security concern but a clear contraband concern. Regardless of the state of enforcement, foreigners are not allowed to have guns in LOS.

[cjinchiangrai]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

they are joking right  '   ....   every damn kid here has a gun under his motorbike seat for crying out aloud.  

 

Why is this a big fuss .....   go and stop 10 kids and I bet you'll get at least 5 guns. 

The old everyone else was speeding defense, sorry, it does not work that way.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

More-so than reporting - Was he caught with the gun in his baggage leaving or arriving ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expand  

I guess it was leaving as he was caught at Gate 81. 

That’s where I’m missing the boat & left wondering…

 

- (Travelling from Phuket) Gun found in check-in luggage, flagged & they pick him up at the gate.

 

- (Travelling from Phuket) Gun found in carry on at at security check point at the gate, but isn’t the security check point much earlier than the gate area ? 

- (Travelling from elsewhere) Gun flagged in checked bagged bag by x-ray screening, picked up passengers on arrival at gate 81 (though that makes less sense ‘cos they should have spotted the gun & pulled the bag & passenger off the flight before departure)

 

 

So…. I’m guessing you guys are right a the  gun was caught on departure - but it’s not sure if it was in checked in or hand carry. 

[norfolkandchance]

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Hezbollah flag 

 

Or 7/11.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

 

they are joking right  '   ....   every damn kid here has a gun under his motorbike seat for crying out aloud.  

 

Why is this a big fuss .....   go and stop 10 kids and I bet you'll get at least 5 guns. 

 

 

 

True… but taking one on a plane adds hyperbolic level of severity.

 

My Brother In Law was caught with 3 guns in his car (licensed but outside of the permissible area of use).

- 10,000 baht fine. 
- Monthly check in with local Police.

 

An unlicensed gu would draw a more severe fine, outside of an area such as an airport. But caught ar an airport with a gun - that’s surely going to result in full on ‘extreme’ penalty… especially as it wasn’t a ‘military officer making a mistake’ etc… (I.e.  no understandable or reasonable explanation) 

[steven100]

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

True… but taking one on a plane adds hyperbolic level of severity.

 

My Brother In Law was caught with 3 guns in his car (licensed but outside of the permissible area of use).

- 10,000 baht fine. 
- Monthly check in with local Police.

 

An unlicensed gu would draw a more severe fine, outside of an area such as an airport. But caught ar an airport with a gun - that’s surely going to result in full on ‘extreme’ penalty… especially as it wasn’t a ‘military officer making a mistake’ etc… (I.e.  no understandable or reasonable explanation) 

 

yes ... i agree ... it's not correct ...

 

I just wanted to point out there are approx 8 million bike kids and most have a gun under the seat.  haha

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

True… but taking one on a plane adds hyperbolic level of severity.

Think about the hyperbolic add if he would have been shooting a doctor.

[motdaeng]

i am really concerned ... what's wrong with some swiss people ... they should know better how to behave in a foreign country ...  

[MalcolmB]

25 minutes ago, motdaeng said:

i am really concerned ... what's wrong with some swiss people ... they should know better how to behave in a foreign country ...  

easy visas for these countries

Thailand tourism is all about quantity over quality. 
 

This crim, the woman kicker and the other Swiss man who bashed the elderly Thai woman in the supermarket.

Animals

[sikishrory]

7 hours ago, motdaeng said:

i am really concerned ... what's wrong with some swiss people ... they should know better how to behave in a foreign country ...  

I thought it was a country of polite Roger Federer's until the Thailand crew got started

[jippytum]

You have to be really stupid attempting to board an aircraft and passing security checks with a gun. 

[spidermike007]

You just have to wonder what this guy was thinking take a gun, worldwide carrying a weapon on a plane requires special permission and permits even if it's checked in, so I guess this guy was just being a little cavalier, or he just has very limited survival skills. 

[Maejo Man]

The Astra that he was carrying is a Spanish copy of the "baby" Browing .25 auto now owned by a Swiss company. Perhaps he thought he was being patriotic. A very small weapon that fits in the palm of your hand.

[wombat]

10 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

The old everyone else was speeding defense, sorry, it does not work that way.

My girlfriend packed my bag when she kicked me out.

How could she be so cruel.

[Dogmatix]

12 hours ago, brianthainess said:

I guess it was leaving as he was caught at Gate 81. 

You have to look at what are most likely the original Thai sources for these stories before thay are put through the AI blender to understand what happened.
 

Arrested at Phuket Airport, Swiss man hid gun in bag, preparing to board a plane, denied having bullets, did not think it would be a crime.

 

On October 8, Pol. Col. Salan Tantisankun, Superintendent of Sakoo Police Station, revealed that Sakoo Police Station arrested an 82-year-old foreign suspect. Pol. Lt. Kornphumphon Phongpaiboon, Deputy Chief of Investigation, Sakoo Police Station, Phuket Province, was notified by Ms. Phakhanat Dumlak, who was on duty as a search officer for 4 INLINE team leaders at the check-in baggage room at Gate 81, International Passenger Terminal, Phuket International Airport, Village 6, Tambon Mai Khao, Amphoe Thalang, Phuket Province, that 

On the night of October 7, while on duty, Ms. Ainah Pang-nga, an OSR image analyzer, was notified that while she was sitting watching the screen analyzing the passenger's baggage X-ray images, she noticed an object that looked like a handgun, so she informed him. and sent the baggage to the baggage registration room at Gate 81, International Passenger Terminal, to search the baggage.

 

It was later discovered that it belonged to Mr. Kurt Fritz Loliger, 82 years old, from Switzerland. The officers therefore searched the bag to examine it. From a detailed search of the suitcase, they found a handgun, ASTRA-CAL 6.35mm.

 

The arresting officers were then notified to arrest Mr. Kurt Fritz Loliger along with the firearm and charged him with possession of a firearm without permission, in order to proceed with legal action.

 

From questioning the foreigner, he did not provide any information, only saying that carrying a firearm without bullets or magazines was allowed on the plane and that he would bring it back to his country. He did not think it was illegal.

 

Not mentioned where he obtained the gun.

[watchcat]

11 hours ago, bokningar said:

Did anyone tell Thaksin Shinawatra that?

 

Or any politician for that matter.

[Homburg]

9 hours ago, motdaeng said:

i am really concerned ... what's wrong with some swiss people ... they should know better how to behave in a foreign country ...  

 

They could be aiming to take the Brits' "bad behaviour crown", and seem to be on a bit of a roll..... 😉