A South African tourist has been arrested after airport security officers found six rounds of ammunition and a firearm magazine inside his luggage at Phuket International Airport before he was due to board an international flight.

Police said the discovery was made at about 10pm on 25 July at the international departures terminal, where baggage screening staff alerted officers from Sakhu Police Station after the items were detected by X-ray.

Airport screening leads to arrest

According to police, the passenger was identified as 27-year-old South African national Mr Morne Dannhauser. Airport security personnel detained him until officers arrived at the scene.

Police said they seized six rounds of ammunition, of an unspecified calibre, along with one magazine found in his luggage.

The suspect was taken to Sakhu Police Station, where investigators informed him of his legal rights and the charges against him before beginning formal legal proceedings. Officers also said the South African Embassy would be notified in accordance with standard procedures.

Strict firearms laws and airport security

Thailand has strict firearms and ammunition laws, and travellers are responsible for ensuring their luggage complies with both Thai law and airline security regulations. Even where passengers legally own firearms or ammunition in their home country, bringing such items into or through Thailand without the necessary authorisation can result in criminal prosecution.

The arrest follows routine baggage screening at Phuket International Airport, where security officers inspect checked luggage before it is loaded onto departing aircraft.

Picture courtesy of Amarin

Join the discussion?

27 July 2026

View full article

Always double-check your bags before leaving home. Socks, underwear, passport, ammunition... wait.

Intriguing. A summary of his work on the Web includes "6+ years' experience across cybersecurity, SaaS, IT services,"

It's common sense and widely known you can't carry amunition in your luggage - anywhere. Was he getting rid of it for someone else? Seems unlikely. I guess the Thai police will be checking recent murders and the amunition types used againt the ones they found with this passenger.

Edited July 27Jul 27 by ronnie50

I was involved in the investigation of a similar incident many years ago. It turned out that the "one bullet in the suitcase" was diversion. Need to check all the cameras.

Once again a foreigner who can't leave home without his gun. In South Africa it is legal to own a gun after reaching the age of 21 and passing a gun compentency test. In his little mind he feels that his South African privileges should be respected at all times regardless of international laws.

The number of times I've nearly boarded with a loaded firearm......seriously......who hasn't been there?

Indeed- and clearly he was in a hurry to catch his flight hence the fact he forgot to pack the gun as well!

5 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

Intriguing. A summary of his work on the Web includes "6+ years' experience across cybersecurity, SaaS, IT services,"

It's common sense and widely known you can't carry amunition in your luggage - anywhere. Was he getting rid of it for someone else? Seems unlikely.

I guess the Thai police will be checking recent murders and the amunition types used againt the ones they found with this passenger.

555.....excellent idea, but I wouldn't put any money on that happening.

3 hours ago, MIke B Bad said:

555.....excellent idea, but I wouldn't put any money on that happening.

Probably not. I'm not up to speed on the number of bullets in a magazine. I guess they differ on the type of (missing) weapon. But from the photo, the loaded magazine looks like it would fit into a pretty large firearm.

7 hours ago, riverhigh said:

Once again a foreigner who can't leave home without his gun. In South Africa it is legal to own a gun after reaching the age of 21 and passing a gun compentency test. In his little mind he feels that his South African privileges should be respected at all times regardless of international laws.

I'd be righteously amazed if this applies to Black South Africans!

May I just throw one out there, the ammunition was detected leaving Thailand, now does that mean they were left in his case by mistake,and they were not detected on his outward flight to Thailand, or did he obtain them here?

5 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

r did he obtain them here?

Maybe from a shooting range? There are quite a few in Thailand. These might have been the leftovers.

8 hours ago, riverhigh said:

Once again a foreigner who can't leave home without his gun. In South Africa it is legal to own a gun after reaching the age of 21 and passing a gun compentency test. In his little mind he feels that his South African privileges should be respected at all times regardless of international laws.

"In his little mind he feels..."

Huh? Do you know him?

He didn't have a gun.

Edited July 27Jul 27 by Liverpool Lou

5 hours ago, MIke B Bad said:

The number of times I've nearly boarded with a loaded firearm......seriously......who hasn't been there?

Seriously... he didn't have a firearm ,loaded or otherwise, either.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I'd be righteously amazed if this applies to Black South Africans!

They are, why would you suggest they wouldn't be?

That is some sorry looking ammo. I wouldn't want to run that in any gun I owned! Doesn't even look like it's all the same calibre.

21 hours ago, riverhigh said:

Once again a foreigner who can't leave home without his gun. In South Africa it is legal to own a gun after reaching the age of 21 and passing a gun compentency test. In his little mind he feels that his South African privileges should be respected at all times regardless of international laws.

No gun involved, I read it was ammunition and a magazine. I can see it being absent mindedness or stupidity of someone used to having weapons.

21 hours ago, riverhigh said:

Once again a foreigner who can't leave home without his gun. In South Africa it is legal to own a gun after reaching the age of 21 and passing a gun compentency test.

And have no criminal record and pass police back ground checks.