TACOMA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have seized a shipment of 30 guns that arrived by ocean container in Tacoma in a shipment described only as “toys and parts.”
In a statement Wednesday, Customs officers say the rifles were of the same size, weight and look as an M-4 automatic rifle, a weapon used by the U.S. military. They bore no serial numbers as a genuine gun would, but also lacked the orange-blaze tip that is required of all imported toy guns.
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents determined that the rifles as shipped from Taiwan were tooled to shoot plastic balls. However ATF says a relatively quick retooling could allow them to fire live ammunition.
The guns valued at nearly $10,000 have been turned over to ATF and will be destroyed.
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