Australia reports alarming rise in airport seizures of credit card knives

Australian police and Border Force officers reported on Wednesday an alarming rise in the seizure of so-called credit card knives.

The razor sharp metal knives fold into what looks like a credit card and are widely sold on the internet for as little as 7 U.S. dollars.

The Australian authorities announced on Wednesday there had been 20-fold increase in seizures of lethal credit card knives at domestic and international airports this year.

In the six months to June 30 last year 25 of the devices were seized. In the six months to June 30 this year 493 have been found on passengers. It is illegal to take them onto planes.

The Australian Federal Police's acting National Manager Aviation Sharon Cowden appealed to the common sense of the traveling public and urged them to dispose of credit-card knifes.

"Despite the obvious danger of credit-card knives, the latest statistics show more and more knives are being seized at airports across Australia," she said on Wednesday.

"You wouldn't try to put a kitchen knife in your wallet or purse, so why carry a credit-card knife?"

Of the 493 discovered this year, 159 were found at Sydney Airport, 146 at Melbourne Airport, 84 at Perth Airport, 25 at Brisbane Airport, 30 at Gold Coast Airport, 17 at Canberra Airport, 16 at Cairns Airport, 13 at Adelaide Airport and three at Darwin Airport.

As a result of the seizures 50 people were criminally charged.

Cowden said the authorities made the announcement to raise awareness they are illegal.

"While the number of credit-card knives seized demonstrates the effectiveness of airport screening process, it shows that members of the traveling public incorrectly believe that these items are not dangerous, and unlawful to take on aircraft," she said. Endi