Posted on 10/11/2005 1:01:00 PM PDT by Shermy
Seven students from a junior high school in southern Norway were caught at the border between Poland and the Czech Republic in an apparent attempt to smuggle home weapons. They'd obtained the arms during a so-called "peace tour" with their class.
The students, from Blomdalen Junior High School in Mandal, were travelling in Poland and the Czech Republic to visit former concentration camps and study the importance of peace.
The group and their adult chaperone were stopped at the border while on their way home Friday afternoon. Police found them carrying a Kalishnikov automatic rifle, brass knuckles, knives and other potentially fatal weapons, reportedly purchased in Prague.
'Unfortunate incident'
The students' travel leader, Tor Bernt Sunde, called it all "a most unfortunate incident." He told local newspaper Fædrelandsvennen that "we couldn't make the rest of the group wait, so they travelled on to Berlin."
The eight mostly young Norwegians ended up being held for 13 hours and all the weapons were confiscated. The border police decided against pressing further charges and the group was released.
"But you can safely say that everyone was nervous," Sunde said. All were relieved when they were allowed to leave the border patrol station at 4am Saturday, and take a taxi to Berlin.
The taxi trip cost around NOK 4,000 (USD 600), "which those involved will have to pay for," Sunde told Fædrelandsvennen.
He said he doesn't intend to pursue the matter further either, other than to call the parents of the students involved. All the parents of students in the class were also to be informed of the smuggling incident at a general information meeting Monday evening.
Alcohol abuse as well
Some of the students, Sunde confirmed, had also been caught drinking alcoholic beverages in Krakow, which prompted tour leaders to take them to the local police station for breathalyzer tests. Five of 11 tested positive, and one student was so drunk that he passed out.
"Unfortunately, there's often a small group of students that set themselves apart in a negative way," said Sunde, who's been taking students to Poland and Germany for years. "In the future, we must try to catch them at an earlier point and either refuse to allow them to come along or insist that their own parents are among the escorts."
And to think that all I tried to smuggle was illegal fireworks.
this is hilarious. Apparently the Norwegians have proven that no matter how much you try to breed your population into a politically correct, socialist stupor, you can’t quash the natural desire of healthy young boys for guns and alcohol. These kids should be made honorary Texans...
Disaffected members of the Young Charleton Heston Fan Club?
As I recall, I got a sweater, but it was a nice sweater.
they should be taught the stories about Norway's heroic
restistance to the Germans during WWII...
More socialist propaganda aimed at our youngest.
Anyone who has to put a "peace" label on themselves to make sure people know they're peaceful just can't be peaceful. That's like shouting "HEY! HEY! I'M PEACEFUL!! HEY! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!?
I'd get arms too if I were them, they live close to Iceland don't they. Can't be overarmed to take a stand against the Icelanders. Never cn be too safe from those world invaders.
Post 22 hits the nail on the head. Boys will be boys no matter what. Also, the more you make guns and alcohol forbidden goods, the more curious you make the kids.
The flea markets in Russia and the old parts of the Soviet empire are full of neat items that go bang or make nasty holes in something. I would have brought home the same stuff had I ever expected to get it by customs, but I knew I'd be caught.
Yes, they caught these 8 but the rest of the group
successfully smuggled in an 88cm flak gun.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.