25.01.2005
More objects seized in 2004

Tougher EU rules and new weapons legislation contributed to an increase in the number of illegal weapons and other objects seized at Copenhagen Airport in 2004.

Last year, security staff at Copenhagen Airport seized 1,060 illegal weapons, more than twice as many as the 447 seized in 2003.

The sharp rise should be seen in light of the tougher Danish weapons legislation introduced in the spring of 2004 with the effect, among other things, that it is no longer lawful to carry lockable folding knives, regardless of the blade length.

Most of the illegal weapons seized in 2004 were precisely sheath knives and other knives – about 900 in all – whilst the other illegal objects included four handguns and a number of sables, throwing stars, numchucks and totenschlaegers. The illegal weapons were all handed over to the police.

41,000 other objects

In addition to the illegal weapons, security staff at Copenhagen Airport seized 41,000 other objects in 2004, i.e. objects that are not illegal but which passengers are just not allowed to take along on a flight – for instance scissors and cork screws, but also golf clubs, fishing rods, walking poles and handweights. Moreover, a large number of cigarette lighters were seized, as passengers are only allowed to carry one lighter.

For these objects, the overall year-on-year increase was 21%. The passengers chose to send 5,000 of the objects as checked baggage or on a later flight, whilst the remaining 36,000 objects were submitted for destruction.

The main reason for the increase in the volume of unlawful objects was that tougher EU security rules were introduced in 2004 with respect to what can be carried on board a flight – both in cabin baggage and in checked baggage.