Businessman named after disassembled shotgun, ammo allegedly found in luggage at Sydney Airport

A businessman arrested after police allegedly found a disassembled gun in his luggage has made a bold claim in court.

A Sydney businessman was preparing to fly to Lebanon from Australia when he was stopped by police after officers allegedly uncovered a disassembled shotgun in his luggage.

Antonios Habib Moussa, 33, appeared before Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday in a desperate bid for release on bail after spending the new year in custody on remand.

Police were called to Sydney Airport on December 28 after a security worker monitoring an X-ray machine allegedly identified suspicious items in the man’s checked baggage.

Australian Federal Police inspected the luggage and allegedly found parts of a disassembled shotgun and ammunition, which officers will allege were not registered to him.

Mr Moussa was subsequently stopped from boarding his flight to the Lebanon, in the Middle East, and questioned over the weapon, which was seized by police.

Appearing before the court on Tuesday, Mr Moussa’s lawyer said the firearm was inoperative because it had a “broken stock” and the weapon was about 80 years old.

A man was arrested at Sydney Airport after he was allegedly found with a disassembled shotgun in his luggage. Picture: NewsWire / David Swift

He went on to tell the court the firearm was registered and Mr Moussa’s legal team were compiling information for the court in regard to the weapon’s care.

“But one thing is certain, there is no link with this weapon, albeit piecemeal in its packaging, with any offence committed or in any way a gun of some suspicion,” he said.

The court was told Mr Moussa’s firearm licence was suspended, and the only other weapon he possessed, a pellet gun at a property in Goulburn in the NSW southern tablelands, had been surrendered.

In applying for his release, Mr Moussa’s lawyer said the 33-year-old was the director of five businesses, including a carpentry business, all of which were fully compliant.

The only other person able to handle the responsibilities of the companies, the court was told, was Mr Moussa’s brother, who was awaiting a visa to Australia in Lebanon.

In granting bail, magistrate Hugh Donnelly said a custodial sentence “was likely because of the way the charges have been framed” if he was found guilty and convicted.

Police said Mr Moussa was boarding a flight to Lebanon when he was arrested. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Moussa was granted bail, conditional that a surety of $20,000 be provided, that he not enter any international points of departure from Australia or possess firearms.

Mr Moussa was initially refused bail to first appear before court on December 29 on one count of trafficking prohibited firearms or firearm parts out of Australia.

If found guilty and convicted, he faces a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Dom Stephenson said the AFP worked closely with the aviation industry and other partners to prevent illegal activity through airports and keep travellers safe.

“There was allegedly an initial claim that the weapon was a ‘drenching gun’ used for agricultural farming. However, the AFP subsequently determined the weapon was a shotgun broken down into two parts. This is a serious weapon with the potential to cause real harm,” Superintendent Stephenson said.

“Security screening staff at the airport were vigilant and, along with AFP officers, acted quickly to ensure the safety of the travelling public and stop weapons being taken offshore.”