A resident of the Tolochin district is suspected of illegal arms and ammunition trafficking

April 6, Minsk / Vasily Malashenkov - BELTA /. Transport police during the "Arsenal" operation, conducted from March 29 to April 2, detained a resident of one of the villages in the Tolochin district, who is suspected of illegally trading hunting rifles and ammunition. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the press secretary of the Internal Affairs Directorate for Transport of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, Alexander Marchenko. The preliminary investigation department of the Orsha Internal Affairs Directorate for Transport initiated a criminal case against him under Part 2 and Part 3 of Article 295-1 of the Criminal Code "Illegal actions in relation to hunting smooth-bore firearms". Hunting rifles and ammunition were seized from the man. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, a total of more than five hundred firearms (about 140 of which were unregistered) were seized across the country during the operation, as well as 2.7 thousand rounds of ammunition and 27 explosive devices. 24 criminal cases were also initiated. Investigations are still ongoing in some cases, and examinations have been appointed. In addition, the public voluntarily surrendered almost 460 unregistered firearms, about 580 registered ones, as well as over 40 thousand various rounds of ammunition. The police remind that various penalties are provided for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. In particular, Article 295 "Illegal actions in relation to firearms, ammunition and explosives" of the Criminal Code of Belarus provides for imprisonment for up to seven years. However, a citizen who voluntarily surrenders a rifle, ammunition, grenade, or other types of ammunition and firearms illegally kept by him to the police is exempted from criminal liability. -0-