U.S. woman arrested in Australia after airport staff find a golden gun in her luggage

An American woman has been arrested at an airport in Australia after arriving with a 24-carat gold-plated handgun in her luggage.
The 28-year-old woman, who authorities did not identify, was arrested and charged shortly after arriving at Sydney Airport from Los Angeles on Sunday, the Australian Border Force said in a news release.

The border force said the woman had not declared the golden firearm, nor did she hold a permit to import or possess the weapon in Australia, which has some of the strictest gun laws in the world.

The woman was charged under section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901, which states it is illegal for a person to "intentionally" import firearms without prior approval. If convicted, a person can face up to 10 years' imprisonment, the border force said.