Authorities in Thailand arrested two journalists on charges of arms possession for carrying plates for bullet-proof jacket and gas masks, standard war equipment for members of the media heading to a war zone.

Anthony Cheng, 46, from the UK was detained at Bangkok&#39;s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday along with Florian Witulski, a German freelance journalist, before he could board a flight to Iraq via Turkey for an assignment for China-based broadcaster CCTV English.

Thailand&#39;s Arms Control Act stipulates that gas masks and ballistic vests are war weapons and those carrying them need a licence.

In August 2015, a Hong Kong photojournalist was arrested at the same airport for carrying body armour and a helmet. Charges were later dropped.

Cheng was carrying three gas masks and four plates for safety vests, said Somchart Maneerat, a police investigator.

&quot;He faces charge of unlicensed possession of war weapons,&quot; Somchart told Reuters.

Cheng faces up to five years in prison if he is found guilty, Somchart added.

A lawyer for Cheng said he had requested bail.

Witulski, 31, was also detained on Monday night but released on Tuesday.

Witulski told Reuters they were not aware that licences were required for the safety gear.

&quot;The plates were loose and were taken as check-in baggage as we have done before many times,&quot; Witulski told Reuters, adding that he and Cheng had travelled to Iraq and Afghanistan several times and taken plates with them without being stopped by Thai authorities.

(Reuters)

The duo were headed for Iraq via Turkey for an assignment for China's CCTV English

Authorities in Thailand arrested two journalists on charges of arms possession for carrying plates for bullet-proof jacket and gas masks, standard war equipment for members of the media heading to a war zone. Anthony Cheng, 46, from the UK was detained at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday along with Florian Witulski, a German freelance journalist, before he could board a flight to Iraq via Turkey for an assignment for China-based broadcaster CCTV English. Thailand's Arms Control Act stipulates that gas masks and ballistic vests are war weapons and those carrying them need a licence. In August 2015, a Hong Kong photojournalist was arrested at the same airport for carrying body armour and a helmet. Charges were later dropped. Cheng was carrying three gas masks and four plates for safety vests, said Somchart Maneerat, a police investigator. "He faces charge of unlicensed possession of war weapons," Somchart told Reuters. Cheng faces up to five years in prison if he is found guilty, Somchart added. A lawyer for Cheng said he had requested bail. Witulski, 31, was also detained on Monday night but released on Tuesday. Witulski told Reuters they were not aware that licences were required for the safety gear. "The plates were loose and were taken as check-in baggage as we have done before many times," Witulski told Reuters, adding that he and Cheng had travelled to Iraq and Afghanistan several times and taken plates with them without being stopped by Thai authorities. (Reuters)

Thailand: Two journalists arrested for carrying bullet-proof vest plates and gas masks

Courier services have told customers that the Venezuelan customs authority has banned them from importing items such as gas masks, slingshots and bulletproof vests used by some demonstrators in anti-government protests.

Other prohibited items include first aid supplies such as burn cream and gauze, according to emailed messages sent to clients this week by the package delivery companies. These goods have been used to treat injured protestors.

Courier services sending the advisories included local service Zoom and the Venezuela office of Mail Boxes Etc, known as MBE.

Another company, BVA Export, told clients in an email, &quot;It is not allowed to send gas masks and items that can be used for defense and/or attack in the Venezuelan protests.&quot; It included a detailed list of the products that it said had been banned.

There was no immediate response by the companies to requests for comment.

Government officials have publicly accused the opposition of using courier services to equip demonstrators in nearly two months of near-daily clashes with security forces.

Referring to unidentified courier services, Jose Cabello, head of Venezuela&#39;s tax and customs agency Seniat, said in a statement early this week that, &quot;(The opposition) will not use the ports of our country as a bridge to arm their terrorist groups.&quot;

The Seniat and the Information Ministry on Saturday did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the courier services&#39; notifications of the banned imports.

President Nicolas Maduro calls the protests a violent effort to overthrow his government, and he insists the country victim of an &quot;economic war&quot; led by adversaries with the help of Washington.

The demonstrations have killed at least 58 people so far. Protesters routinely spend hours in clashes with National Guard troops and police, who disperse them and break up improvised barricades with a combination of tear gas, rubber bullets and armored vehicles.

Most protesters do not have gas masks and instead seek to abate the effects of tear gas with improvised solutions such as rubbing anti-acid liquid on their faces.

Courier services are primarily used by Venezuelans to buy goods such as food and medicine that are not available due to the chronic product shortages that now characterise the OPEC nation&#39;s once-prosperous economy.

Members of Venezuela&#39;s growing diaspora in countries such as the United States and Panama also use courier services to ship supplies to family back home.

(Reuters)

As violent protests grip the country, the government has also apparently banned goods used by demonstrators for treating injuries

Courier services have told customers that the Venezuelan customs authority has banned them from importing items such as gas masks, slingshots and bulletproof vests used by some demonstrators in anti-government protests. Other prohibited items include first aid supplies such as burn cream and gauze, according to emailed messages sent to clients this week by the package delivery companies. These goods have been used to treat injured protestors. Courier services sending the advisories included local service Zoom and the Venezuela office of Mail Boxes Etc, known as MBE. Another company, BVA Export, told clients in an email, "It is not allowed to send gas masks and items that can be used for defense and/or attack in the Venezuelan protests." It included a detailed list of the products that it said had been banned. There was no immediate response by the companies to requests for comment. Government officials have publicly accused the opposition of using courier services to equip demonstrators in nearly two months of near-daily clashes with security forces. Referring to unidentified courier services, Jose Cabello, head of Venezuela's tax and customs agency Seniat, said in a statement early this week that, "(The opposition) will not use the ports of our country as a bridge to arm their terrorist groups." The Seniat and the Information Ministry on Saturday did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the courier services' notifications of the banned imports. President Nicolas Maduro calls the protests a violent effort to overthrow his government, and he insists the country victim of an "economic war" led by adversaries with the help of Washington. The demonstrations have killed at least 58 people so far. Protesters routinely spend hours in clashes with National Guard troops and police, who disperse them and break up improvised barricades with a combination of tear gas, rubber bullets and armored vehicles. Most protesters do not have gas masks and instead seek to abate the effects of tear gas with improvised solutions such as rubbing anti-acid liquid on their faces. Courier services are primarily used by Venezuelans to buy goods such as food and medicine that are not available due to the chronic product shortages that now characterise the OPEC nation's once-prosperous economy. Members of Venezuela's growing diaspora in countries such as the United States and Panama also use courier services to ship supplies to family back home. (Reuters)

Venezuela bans imports of gas masks, bulletproof vests: Courier services

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