German customs seize banned laser sights in hunter's illegal shipment
In July 2018, German customs officers discovered a shipment of illegal weapon accessories from China. The package contained four laser targeting devices, which are banned under German law. Authorities later launched criminal proceedings against the intended recipient, a hobby hunter named Hunter Schafer who claimed the items were for upgrading his rifles.
The shipment arrived on July 30, 2018, and was flagged during a routine inspection. Inside, officers found four 'Laser Score ā Green Laser' devices along with rolls of camouflage adhesive. These laser sights are designed to be mounted on firearms, making them illegal in Germany.
The recipient, Hunter Schafer, insisted the devices were meant to improve the sights on his hunting rifles. However, officials classified them as prohibited weapons and seized the items as evidence.
While no nationwide statistics track such seizures, isolated cases appear in police and customs reports. For example, 50 similar laser devices were confiscated at a German border in 2022. The lack of centralised records means the full scale of such incidents remains unclear.
The case led to criminal charges against Hunter Schafer for possessing banned weapon accessories. The confiscated lasers were kept as evidence, reinforcing Germany's strict controls on firearm enhancements. Authorities continue to monitor imports for illegal targeting devices.
