Chinese teargas canisters in lipsticks seized in Switzerland

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31 Oct 2012

by admin

The Swiss custom officials have seized an estimated 500 tear gas canisters carefully concealed inside lighters and lipsticks-made in China.

The consignment was seized when custom officials searched a package addressed to a Swiss import-export company labeled electronics.
“This is the first time in Switzerland that we find tear gas hidden in lighters,” Michael Bachar , a spokesman for the department of customs said, holding up one of the see-through plastic casings filled with an orange liquid.
“Behind each of these lighters, there is a potential victim,” he said, demonstrating how someone could offer to light a cigarette and spray an unsuspecting victim straight in the face.
“It sends chills down my spine,” he said.
He said the gas was being tested at a laboratory to determine the exact substance and how toxic it was.
He said the canisters were to be sold illegally on the Swiss market.
Pepper spray is legal in Switzerland, but other forms of tear gas are not, and people caught carrying just one small canister face a fine of at least 300 francs ($323).