Europe/Middle Eastern guys who are into guns....

The company a friend works for has a few offices in Europe (both western & eastern) as well as middle east.
Anyway, he is considering transferring overseas but has a small arsenal.
Now, we all know how guns are pretty much outlawed over-there & essentially "very bad."

Anyway - the question becomes:
1.... If moving over there, is your checked luggage subject to a thorough search through customs? Obviously, and I've done it countless times myself, in the continental US, you can check an unloaded, declared firearm in hard case & travel with it whereever you please..... What if you declare a gun on a flight to say Germany, or Abu Dhabi - are you even allowed to board?? If you do board, when arriving in that country, (I remember customs looking at what Ive declared on form but not necessarily checking through luggage) - I assume if you attempt this, and its found, and firearms are not legal in that country than you can be penalized or have item confiscated, correct?

2.... How about the shipping containers? Say, throw it in a vehicle's trunk or with all your houseware stuff (couches, beds) put in sealed container and send her over - is that stuff subject to search? Secondly, there are two types of searches - obviously drugs are illegal all over so I understand how if a drug sniffing dog alerts to the presence of possible narcotics that gives probable cause for a search - but if no drugs are detected will the items likely be searched?

3. If the guns make it overseas & he keeps for personal reasons in a PRIVATE residence - what happens if they are somehow found by authorities - how serious are penalties? I'm not talking about fully auto Uzi's & Tec-9's here I mean "normal" handguns & shotguns.....
Secondly, if he chooses to carry concealed (again fully realizing he is taking a large risk) does anyone know what the statues state as far as penalties or imprisonment (for the MOST part since every country is different??)

4. Lastly, are there ANY indoor shooting ranges whatsoever? Can ammunition be shipped over if ordered online?

He will likely attempt to bring his personal guns over despite the ramifications.
Thanks in advance folks.

 

A public thread about smuggling guns.

Strong work.

 

Ha, hardly.
Guns for one single, law-abiding man who has them all registered currently, and would only be kept at a private residence. These would not be sold or distributed. I'm only asking a fairly straightforward question to those in the know.
If he has done nothing to warrant them being taken away, why rob the man of his freedom & right to bear arms? (Though I realize the Constitution was only in AMERICA - I'm not trying to start a debate here.)

Only asking what would likely happen if he accomplished getting them over - because I know the man would never cause harm to anyone. This is hardly a thread about smuggling "illegal" guns but supposed to be used for more of a EDUCATIONAL, discussion tool on human rights, differences between countries, & how most times people will do what they please anyway!!
Thanks for your input though.

 

Actually, it is precisely a thread about illegal smuggling of guns. Good luck with that " American Bill of Rights" in the middle east. But I'll quit posting and watch the fun from the side lines.

 

Spending time in prison is a great way to learn about middle east customs and culture...

 

The duration of the incarceration may be short. Pretty sure that's not a plus though...

 

In the UAE, gun permits are limited to citizens. Heard horror stories of those found to be on the wrong side of the law. When I was an expat in China, it would make the paper about once a month of some poor guy executed for possession of bullets...

 

^^^
WOW. That's exactly why I asked - mostly to gather facts from residents (better to go directly to the source right?)
Here is an ENLIGHTENING, non-negative response from another forum - the type of answer me & my friend are looking for ::

Denmark here, I can only address some of your points:
1: I THINK you can bring a lawful firearm here from another country for a limited period of time, provided you get a permission to do so from the local police. Hunting trips, IPSC competitions, that sort of stuff.
3: Here, it's jail time, one year minimum mandatory sentence. If he gets caught carrying it, then he'll get the book and the gang laws thrown at him.

A friendly tip on your second point: Some customs facilities have large x-ray scanners that can scan whole containers in minutes. One was able to show ten paperclips hidden in a truck-load of paper. A boot-full of firearms would be fairly conspicous.

ETA: Oh yeah, tell your mate that smuggling firearms is a piss-poor idea. Really.

Don't worry, I get that he's not going to do it as an occupation, but it still won't look good in court.

BTW, your friend doesn't have give up guns if he's coming here. As far as I know, civies can have AR15-type rifles and Saiga 12's in France, the Germans aren't the strictest bunch either, in Finland you can have full-auto and suppressors, in the Czech Republic you can have full-auto with a collector's license, Switzerland is cool with FA. So with a bit of work, he can still get his fix, and legally too.

 

I have a lot of experience in this. But I dont see a country or even a region specified. Where are you trying to go specifically?

But for most of your questions, here is the answer for if you were say going to Jordan or most places mid east.

1. You'll will not be allowed on the plane with out written permission to bring the weapons into EVERY country you land in. If you do not have written permission, you will go to jail and at best never get your guns back. The US Gov will flat out NOT help you.

2. We call this gun running and some places execute you for it. Either way, you are patently asking about gun running here. No if's, and's, or but's.

3. You go to jail.... for a long time. About the same as if the cops found a machine gun at your place in the US. But you have no rights there. What would you do with it anyway? You cant protect yourself with it with out going to jail and then for killing a citizen. And the US Gov will flat out not help you.

4. Yes. All over the place. You can rent guns there from .22 to 50cal M2s!

 

Thanks for the insightful reply Dr. Strangelove -
As far as countries, maybe say Spain, Germany, Belgium, Turkey, UAE, and Saudi Arabia....
I will convey to him exactly what needs to be done, and apparently abiding is absolutely mandatory. That's basically all I needed to know! Regards

As far as #4 about shooting ranges - I (never having been to Europe) thought guns were strictly prohibited in every single fashion - no exceptions for civilians!!
Now of course that shows how much I know - but I never dreamed there was any shooting ranges, what a surprise!!!
Are you familiar with Oz/Down Under at all ?? THX A TON

 

Ranges are run by locals and have government approval. Easy if you are a citizen. Obeying the law as a foreigner is mandatory unless jail you enjoy.

No offense but I have to say, your questions and the half the world range you are saying spanks of bs. No one has a business successful in that many places and does not have flat out lawyers advising them.

 

^^^
It's not his business sir, he only happens to be a lowly employee considering a transfer - thats all !!!!

 

Oh ok.. that makes more sense then. Sounds like my company to be honest.

 

When I moved to South Africa, I simply asked the South African Embassy, I was allowed to bring guns locked in a gun case. I had to bring a Police report stating I didn't have a criminal record.

Once I arrived in South Africa, they issued me a 90 day permit.. Every 90 days I renewed the permit. No big deal at all..

Of course that was South Africa..

I brought rifles, and no handguns.



Oh, and now that I think of it, they wouldn't allow semi auto's



.

 

The arsenal should probably be locked away safely in a storage unit or stored at a trusted friends' house, in the US.

Consider being away from your precious firearms just part of the crappy experience living abroad.

Even if you got them in and kept them while there, getting them out may be just as difficult.

 

thanks for the added, valuable points guys.