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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, May 14, 2010

Japanese tourist arrested for trying to board flight with stun gun


By Jim Dooley
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

This is a Muscle Man brand stun gun similar to that allegedly found in the carry-on bag of a man trying to board a flight in Honolulu.

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Hiroki Suzuki, 29, packed a 750,000-volt "Muscle Man" stun gun in his luggage when he traveled to Hawai'i from Tokyo earlier this month.

Suzuki won't be taking the weapon home with him.

The tourist was stopped by Transportation Security Administration personnel at Honolulu International Airport this morning when he tried to board a flight to Tokyo.

"The stun gun was carried within Suzuki's carry-on baggage, concealed within a small black canvas pouch," FBI Special Agent Barry Vaughn said in a criminal complaint filed this afternoon in federal court.

Suzuki was charged with attempting to carry a concealed dangerous weapon aboard an aircraft.

Suzuki said he purchased the "Muscle Man" about a year ago in Japan for personal protection.

The device was in his checked luggage when he flew here but was in a carry-on bag when he tried to board All Nippon Airways Flight 1051 this morning.

Suzuki appeared in federal court this afternoon and U.S. Magistrate-Judge Leslie Kobayashi found probable cause to believe that a crime had been committed.

Suzuki told federal officials that he wants to return to Japan to attend his grandfather's funeral.

Kobayashi said Suzuki will be allowed to attend the funeral but must return here for his next court appearance May 28.

Kobayashi required Suzuki to post a $25,000 signature bond which would be forfeited if he fails to appear.

"This was a great catch," Honolulu FBI Special Agent Tom Simon said.

"The TSA and bag screeners are to be commended," he said.

Personal possession of a stun gun is illegal in Hawai'i and several other states. They are available for purchase over the Internet but cannot be shipped to states or localities where they are outlawed.

The devices send painful high-voltage charges into muscles and can incapacitate a person for several minutes.

Reach Jim Dooley at jdooley@honoluluadvertiser.com.