Philippines National Detained at Chennai Airport After Live Bullet Found in Handbag

Security personnel at Chennai International Airport detained a 36-year-old woman from the Philippines on Friday morning after discovering a live 7.62 mm bullet inside her handbag.

The passenger, identified as Elvira Ambrosio, arrived at the airport with her two children to board a Thai Airways flight bound for Manila via Bangkok. During routine security screening, personnel detected an alert while scanning Ambrosio's handbag. When questioned initially, she reportedly told security staff that she was not carrying any dangerous items.

Upon opening the handbag, security personnel recovered a live 7.62 mm ammunition round. Following the discovery, authorities cancelled the travel plans for Ambrosio and her children and subjected her to further inquiry.

During the questioning, Ambrosio told officials that she had purchased the bullet as a souvenir at an exhibition in the Philippines. She claimed that exhibitions displaying and selling old firearms, ammunition, and drones are held periodically in her country. She further stated that she had carried the same bullet in her handbag on her flight from the Philippines to Chennai, during which it had gone undetected.

Airport security officials were not satisfied with her explanation. Ambrosio and the seized ammunition were subsequently handed over to the Chennai Airport Police for further investigation.