Replica grenades and disarmed bullets found

A container full weapons and ammunition, including replica mortar bombs and grenades, was found yesterday in a Dunedin container yard, police have said.

A search of the container also revealed a consignment of disarmed heavy machine gun bullets.

Customs officers alerted police after spotting the weapons and ammunition during a routine x-ray of the container. The weapons appeared to be armed, a spokesman said.

The items were stored in boxes inside the container, which had come from China.

An area around the Fryatt St container yard was cordoned off for about 30 minutes around noon until officers confirmed the cargo of munitions were disarmed.

Sergeant Chris McLellan, of Dunedin police, said the bomb squad was sent from Christchurch as a precaution to ensure there were no live explosives inside the container.

An initial police assessment found that the grenades and mortar bombs, while appearing to be authentic, were most likely imitations.

Officers discovered the .50 calibre heavy machine gun rounds were real. However, the working components of the bullets had been removed and the caps had been replaced.

There were a few other suspicious items stored inside the container, including an "unusual" collection of knives, a police spokesman said.

Police, together with Customs and Port Otago were working on tracing the container's movements, including the destination and use of the goods.

Police were assuming the items were for personal use.

It was not clear yesterday whether the correct paperwork for the weapons and ammunition had been submitted.

A Customs Service spokesman said the main concern yesterday was that the scene was safe from a public safety point of view.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES