Fed:Defence chief says no widespread problem with weapons theft

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2007
Fed:Defence chief says no widespread problem with weapons theft

CANBERRA, April 5 AAP - Defence head Angus Houston says he's confident there's no widespread
systemic problem of defence personnel selling weapons onto the black market.

That follows the arrest today of three people, one an army officer alleged to be the
mastermind behind the theft of army M-72 rocket launchers and their sale to bikies and
alleged terrorists.

Air Chief Marshal Houston said weapons security procedures were being toughened further
in the wake of audits of defence weapons storage practices.

"I am confident that we do not have a systemic problem with a large number of people
involved in stealing weapons and selling them on the black market. I'm totally confident
we don't have a major problem," he told reporters.

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KEYWORD: ROCKETS HOUSTON

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