The PSP states, in a statement, that during the first half of 2019, the National Experts Centre of the Department of Arms and Explosives of the PSP was asked to carry out 971 surveys of unclaimed postal parcels received at Lisbon Airport Customs, which led to the creation of this partnership to better combat illegal imports.
During the surveys by police in 2019 989 class A weapons (prohibited weapons, without the possibility of licensing), one class B (defense weapon) and seven class E (electric weapons and defense aerosols),were detected.
Two class F weapons (replicas of firearms) and five others excluded from the scope of the Legal Regime for Arms and Ammunition and 69 objects without any classification were also detected.
The police explain that, in order to increase the effectiveness and efficiency in customs control and in the importation of prohibited or unauthorised weapons, in January 2020, they carried out three training actions aimed at 50 employees of the Lisbon Airport Customs Delegation and CTT.
PSP police warned that the acquisition of class A weapons is prohibited by law (even if ‘online’ from abroad), constituting a crime of possession of a weapon that is prohibited in Portugal, although legal in the country of origin of the order.