A Glasgow man has been sentenced to five years in prison after attempting to smuggle a lethal stun gun disguised as a torch into the UK. The National Crime Agency (NCA) and Police Scotland successfully uncovered the case following a Border Force interception at Stansted Airport.
On 22 February 2020, Border Force officers identified the concealed stun gun during routine freight checks at Stansted Airport. The package was addressed to 54-year-old Yai Kain Cheung in Springburn, Glasgow, and immediately raised suspicions.
Subsequently, on 7 April 2020, the NCA and Police Scotland conducted a raid on Cheung’s home. They discovered two additional stun devices hidden at the property. All three stun guns are illegal under the Firearms Act 1968.
Cheung admitted to purchasing all three stun guns but denied possession of two of them. The court accepted his not guilty pleas for those two devices. However, he pled guilty to importing the stun gun seized at Stansted and to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm due to previous convictions.
At Glasgow’s High Court on 6 August 2023, Cheung was sentenced to five years imprisonment for the importation charge and two years for possession, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Rob Miles, NCA Operations Manager, stated: “Though disguised as a torch, this device posed a serious risk of injury or death. This seizure highlights the ongoing threat of firearm imports and our commitment to stopping criminals like Cheung.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Houston, Police Scotland’s Head of Organised Crime, added: “This conviction sends a clear message that illegal firearms won’t be tolerated in Scotland. Our joint efforts with the NCA are vital to keeping dangerous weapons off our streets.”
Martin Hendy, Deputy Director of Border Force, commented: “This sentence reflects the hard work by Border Force and NCA to secure UK borders. It warns anyone attempting weapon smuggling that we’re watching and ready to act.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
