A British couple was arrested in Calais when attempting to smuggle a pair of Ukraine war rocket launchers, known as "Bunker Busters," into the UK. During a routine search at the French port,
customs officials discovered the rocket launchers wrapped in cellophane in the back of the couple's van.
When asked if they had anything to declare before boarding the ferry, the couple admitted to carrying two rocket launchers and other military equipment they had received as gifts during a humanitarian mission in Ukraine.
In addition to the rocket launchers, the van contained 14 bullet casings and the remains of a bulletproof jacket that had been shot to pieces.
An emergency was declared, and the area was evacuated while bomb disposal experts assessed the situation. It was determined that all the equipment was "decommissioned," but as a precautionary measure, it was destroyed.
The couple, who remain unidentified, appeared in court after being arrested on May 7. They claimed that the equipment represented "symbols of victory" that they had received as gifts while working in Ukraine.
One of the defendants asserted that they were not collectors but had been given the rocket launchers as a gesture of gratitude for their work. They had contacted English authorities, who allegedly informed them that transporting such equipment back to the UK was permissible.
However, they were unaware that transporting such items was prohibited in France. Consequently, the couple was convicted of "transporting Category C weapons without legitimate reason" and handed a customs fine.
The M141 single-shot, shoulder-fired rocket launchers are commonly used by Ukrainians in their war against Russia. Photo by Department of the Army, Wikimedia commons.