US lawmaker arrested in Hong Kong Airport over unloaded gun

A state senator from Washington was arrested on Friday night at Hong Kong International Airport over a gun in his carry-on bag, his office said.

Jeff Wilson, a Republican from the city of Longview, was charged with possession of an unregistered firearm after he arrived in the Chinese city with an unloaded revolver, his office said in a statement. He was released Sunday on bail and faces a hearing on Oct. 30.

Wilson traveled from Portland International Airport, with a layover in San Francisco, for a five-week vacation in Southeast Asia with his wife, according to the statement, adding that baggage screens in Portland didn’t detect the weapon. Wilson discovered the firearm on his way to Hong Kong and informed customs officials right after he landed, according to the statement.

“It was an honest mistake, and I expect the situation to be resolved shortly,” Wilson said in the statement. 

He also denied reports that the weapon was discovered during a bag check, saying he “immediately went to customs officials and called their attention to the issue” upon landing. Previously, Hong Kong media reported that he was detained after a baggage screener found a gun in his belongings.

US officials have repeatedly warned of the growing number of firearms being intercepted at US airports, as looser restrictions make gun carriage more commonplace. Authorities stopped almost 20 guns a day at airport security checkpoints during the third quarter, with the nine-month total on pace for another record in 2023. 

The Transportation Security Administration is investigating the matter, it said in an emailed statement. Americans are allowed to travel with firearms in checked luggage but those stopped with guns at TSA checkpoints risk fines up to $15,000. 

Maximum Penalty

In Hong Kong, firearms are strictly regulated. Mainly police and private security contractors are allowed to carry guns. The maximum penalty for possessing arms without a license is 14 years in prison and a fine of HK$100,000 ($12,785). 

Wilson said that while his pistol was not registered in Hong Kong, it is properly registered in Washington state, where he holds a concealed pistol license, according to the statement. He said he found his gun mid-flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong when he reached into his briefcase for a piece of gum. 

The lawmaker, who is a port commissioner in Longview, had planned to meet with counterparts at the port of Shanghai in addition to making trips to Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. He said he hopes to resume his itinerary when the case is resolved.