What was a Banora Point man going to do with all these weapons?
HE is Banora Point's own blade runner - a 65-year-old man who this week was found guilty of importing a lethal arsenal of knives and knuckledusters from America.
James Philip Curtis was caught by Australian Customs officers in November trying to import 60 illegal weapons into Brisbane through a shipping container holding personal effects.
A random x-ray of the container found nine double-edged daggers, seven concealed blades, five trench knives, four knuckledusters, four spikes, an incomplete hand grenade and many more weapons inside.
The weapons were hidden among a car, personal items, miscellaneous tools and metal cabinets inside the container.
On discovering the illegal bounty, officers searched a Banora Point home and found a black hair comb containing a concealed blade and a three-sided blade dagger.
Banora Point-based Curtis pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges of importing prohibited imports, making false statements to a Customs officer and possession of prohibited imports.
He was fined $7000 and ordered to pay $1200 in costs by the Southport Magistrates Court.
Customs Queensland regional director Jenny Eutick said the weapons were prohibited in Australia because of the risk they posed to the community.
Anything to declare?
WHAT he tried to bring into Australia:
nine double-edged daggers
seven concealed blades
five trench knives
four knuckle dusters
one curb spray
four spikes
two butterfly knives
three push knives
two weighted gloves
three extendable batons
two fighting claws
one swordstick
one incomplete hand grenade
one wrist braced slingshot with 163 shots
eight live rounds of ammunition
seven spent cartridges
