Italian police seize hundreds of rifles bound for Belgium

[webfact]

Italian police seize hundreds of rifles bound for Belgium



TRIESTE: -- Italian border police have confiscated almost eight hundred shotguns from a Dutch truck, which was travelling from Turkey to Belgium.

The vehicle was stopped and searched in the northern port of Trieste.

A check of the goods transported revealed that boxes contained 781 “Winchester SXP” model rifles.

Police said that given the particular nature of the items, all the goods were confiscated.

A further investigation revealed regular customs documentation, but a lack of authorisation required for the transport of large calibre weapons.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-11-27

[SgtRock]

Pump action shotguns from Turkey to Belgium.

Glad I will be missing the party.

[JoePai]

Pump shotguns...

[NeverSure]

Those are Winchester Defenders. They aren't rifles as stated but short barrel shotguns meant for shooting people. They are also sometimes generically referred to as "riot guns".

Notice that they have a pistol grip right behind the trigger which makes the butt stock redundant in close and personal work.

They typically choose what's called 00 ("double aught") buckshot which is meant for killing deer in a longer shotgun but is deadly on humans. The typical 2 3/4" round of ammunition holds 9 pellets, each about the size and speed of a 9mm pistol round. So getting a direct hit from one of those is about the same as getting hit 9 times by a 9mm handgun with the hits simultaneous in an expanding circle depending on distance.

Those were intended for close range fighting or killing and mass killing. They were originally designed for police and military close up crowd (riot) control and the US military still uses some of them for sweeping a room when needed.

Edited November 27, 2015 by NeverSure

[Tywais]

Perhaps they were just being recalled.

“Winchester Repeating Arms has discovered that a limited number of SXP (3½-inch chamber) shotguns (also called the Super X Pump) may, under certain circumstances, unintentionally discharge while closing the action. Failure to return any affected shotguns for inspection and/or repair may create a risk of harm, including serious personal injury or death".

http://bearingarms.com/rule-one-winchester-sxp-slamfire-recall/

[NeverSure]

A little research says that Winchester has those guns made in Turkey. I would have guessed the USA. The plot thickens.

[Thorgal]

Turkey has a Winchester factory in Instanbul which produces the model from OP.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=287

Would like to see the reaction of Turkey and Belgium...

Perhaps a large scale training exercise to test law enforcement vigilance in weapons trafficking in EU...

Edited November 27, 2015 by Thorgal

[bark]

It looks like they just didn't have the right paperwork for customs. Maybe.....

[Steely Dan]

How apt from Europe's most porous border to its forward control center for the Jihaddist invaders. Is there anyone left who believes full border controls Europe wide be reinstated and all refugees screened outside of this area.

[silent]

Pump action shotguns from Turkey to Belgium.

Glad I will be missing the party.

Looks perfect for an old fashioned Turkey shoot.

[MobileContent]

Looks like once again Turkey is in the spotlight. The quantity is so large that I am really starting to get worried about Europe.

Can you imagine a few hundred Muslim fanatics are running around with those weapons.

Only a hundred migrants went into Greece on average per day. I guess ISIS is already in Europe and are just waiting for the weapons.

Once again Turkey is developing into a Pariah state.

[Thorgal]

Pump action shotguns from Turkey to Belgium.

Glad I will be missing the party.

Looks perfect for an old fashioned Turkey shoot.

Actually, Winchester has a similar SXP Turkey Hunter version :

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=021C&mid=512307

Should have been too obvious to link them to Turkey if they are used in public...

Edited November 27, 2015 by Thorgal

[tigermonkey]

Does anybody really believe that they intercepted and confiscated the entire shipment ? It's truly alarming how many have already gotten through.

[Wilsonandson]

Why would terrorists send weapons across european borders to Belgium now? Every man and his dog is being frisked down. Seems a bit fishy to me.

[bangon04]

paving the way for more surveillance and government control.....

would have been a good frame up if Russia had thought of this...

[manarak]

Does anybody really believe that they intercepted and confiscated the entire shipment ? It's truly alarming how many have already gotten through.

they confiscated what they found.

there is no cause for alarm yet - this might also just be a regular shipment to completely legal and legit arms dealers in Belgium.

[Enoon]

I suppose weapons like these would be high on the shopping list of European anti-terrorist units right now.

Wait a moment , NEWS! just coming in........

It has been speculated that it may be a shipment on it's way to the company that owns Winchester (and Browning):

"FN is a subsidiary of the Belgian Herstal Group, which also owns U.S. Repeating Arms Company (Winchester) and Browning Arms Company.^[1] FN Herstal is the parent company of two United States entities: FN Manufacturing and FNH USA"

Whose main facility is in Herstal, Belgium.

"Just like the Herstal Group's headquarters, FN Herstal is located in Herstal, Belgium, at the heart of Europe, the European Union and NATO. The Herstal facilities house all departments in charge of designing, developing, manufacturing, testing, marketing and selling small arms, integrated weapon systems, ammunition and associated products to Military, Law Enforcement and Special Forces operators all over the globe."

Could it be that, having been manufactured in Turkey (at the fully licensed and legal Winchester factory), they have to go to Belgium for testing? Hey, maybe that's where their European, or even worldwide, distribution centre is?

And maybe a very anxious customs official, on double plus maximum alert, is worried about the calibre and wants approval from "head office"?

News, News, News , News........it's not there to make you feel happy, comfortable and secure.

Off you go to bed now.

Edited November 27, 2015 by Enoon

[billd766]

Follow the money trail from the shipping paperwork backwards.

[Linky]

Seems a good idea for more gun controls.

[JHolmesJr]

Making guns in turkey…what a grand idea!

[bendejo]

Why would terrorists send weapons across european borders to Belgium now? Every man and his dog is being frisked down. Seems a bit fishy to me.

Your statement assumes intelligence on their part. The guns will get through if it is god's will.

Don't forget these are all young zealots with more emotion than brains.

On the other hand this could be a legit shipment with fouled-up paperwork.

[simple1]

Why would terrorists send weapons across european borders to Belgium now? Every man and his dog is being frisked down. Seems a bit fishy to me.

Your statement assumes intelligence on their part. The guns will get through if it is god's will.

Don't forget these are all young zealots with more emotion than brains.

On the other hand this could be a legit shipment with fouled-up paperwork.

Regrettably I really do believe you underestimate the enemy. In this instance probably you're correct, more to do with incorrect paperwork than a weapons smuggling effort.

[FritsSikkink]

Perhaps they were just being recalled.

“Winchester Repeating Arms has discovered that a limited number of SXP (3½-inch chamber) shotguns (also called the Super X Pump) may, under certain circumstances, unintentionally discharge while closing the action. Failure to return any affected shotguns for inspection and/or repair may create a risk of harm, including serious personal injury or death".

http://bearingarms.com/rule-one-winchester-sxp-slamfire-recall/

they were recalled, just more half truths to scare people and take their liberty's