Guy stopped at bridge with Kalashnikov-type weapon

********************** (EDITOR'S NOTE: The Russian firearm seized yesterday at the International Bridge may not look exactly as shown.

Police have identified the weapon as a '12HMASH Saiga 12 gauge,' a configuration not known to SooToday.com.

We believe it to have been a Kalashnikov-pattern 12 gauge produced at Russia's famous IZHMASH ordinance factory, which also makes similarly configured Kalashnikov AK-47 military assault rifles.

The Saiga-12 is manufactured in configurations ranging from civilian hunting models to special forces combat weapons.

The size of the seized magazines has not been specified by police, but civilian guns usually come with a five-round magazine while combat versions typically have an eight-round magazine.

The following is the statement issued this morning by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.)

********************* 28-year old Indio Munoz of McMinnville, Oregon, USA will be appearing in bail court this morning.

Yesterday afternoon just after 4 p.m. Mr. Munoz was stopped at Canada Customs as he entered into the country. A search was done on the accused vehicles and Customs inspectors located a 12HMASH Saiga 12 gauge shotgun, which is prohibited in Canada.

Also located were five ammunition magazines, four for a 12 gauge and one for a 9 mm, all of which are over capacity magazines, making [them] a prohibited device in Canada.

Mr. Munoz has been charged with two counts of unauthorized possession of a weapon.

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