U.S. man transiting through Taiwan arrested after 50 bullets found in bag

Taoyuan, Jan. 26 (CNA) A U.S. citizen transiting through Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport en route to the Philippines was arrested Thursday after customs officials found 50 undeclared .22 bullets in his checked baggage.

Police said the box of bullets was found when the man's baggage was going through an X-ray scanner.

The suspect, 75, did not declare the bullets and has been referred to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office for contravening the Controlling Guns, Ammunition, and Knives Act.

According to police, the man said he was traveling from San Francisco to the Philippine province of Cebu to visit his son, and had unintentionally left the box of bullets in his backpack following a hunting trip in the United States.

In a statement, the Aviation Police Bureau said prosecutors were unlikely to press charges if the man's story turned out to be true.

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which functions as a de facto embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, has been contacted in order to provide the man with any assistance he may need, police said.