Cox, who was training local police, was found carrying 15 bullets of 9mm calibre in his bags.
KARACHI: A US citizen, who was detained at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Monday evening for carrying bullets in his baggage, was found to be an agent for the US investigating agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), CNN reported on Wednesday.
Joel Cox was attempting to board a domestic flight to Islamabad on Monday evening, when the Airport Security Force (ASF) discovered 15 bullets of 9mm caliber and a pistol clip in his baggage.
He was detained by the ASF before being handed over to the Airport police station where a case was lodged against him under section 23 1 (a) of the Sindh Arms Act, 2013.
The US national was sent on physical custody remand by a judicial magistrate in district Malir on May 6. Adam H Ishaque, the judicial magistrate in district Malir, had remanded the suspect to police till May 10.
"The American failed to provide any legal permission for carrying bullets," senior police officer Rao Anwar told AFP.
US officials in Pakistan confirmed that an American had been arrested.
"We are aware of the situation that has been reported and we are coordinating with the Pakistani authorities to resolve the matter," a US embassy spokesperson said.
Carrying firearms or ammunition aboard commercial flights is prohibited.
Early on Wednesday, CNN reported that Cox was an FBI agent.
FBI agent arrested in Pakistan after accidentally carrying ammunition boarding a domestic flight, official says.
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) May 6, 2014
CNN added that the agent was in Pakistan to train police officers.
The report added that diplomats were working with Pakistani authorities to secure his release.
COMMENTS (63)
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Imagine the worldwide reaction, if a ISI agent got caught Red-handed at Washington or Heathrow airport carrying 15 bullets and a 'know how to make explosive magazine' it would have been enough for (God) Obama to order his US air-force to drop a nuclear bomb over Islamabad, oh and with the help of his messenger David Cameron!
may be a decoy
@Assad: Was he training the officers in Airport Security techniques, come on give me a break, there are sufficient security checks, no one knows yet where is the gun, if it is a conventional handgun or some special droneafide gun, everyone of us can rant but the inferior sinsiter is going to decide the agent's fate just like Rehman Malik did for Raymond Davis and the hundreds of other agents who departed as soon as he was arrested.
@Baloch: those who have valid license and are appropriately credentialed will avoid arrest by presenting the documentation, however, the credentialed are still required to declare and provided documentation it is not that simple cut and dry that you are licensed so you carry weapons and ammo on board a flight ...
@Who: Even if it is a pellet gun(Air gun) or pellets, an official on official duty must bear appropriate credentials permitting to carry on person or in his luggage, checked and cabin baggage. There are no exceptions. If the subject had any such credentials he would have presented to prevent an arrest.
@US: There will be more to come.be ready to take the bags.
Obviously he was an FBI agent. No ordinary American would want to live or even be in Karachi
Release him or face sanctions....
@KALA KHAN: Still begging? Is this what Pakistan is all about?
@WITIAN: Pakistan is not India.
Another Innocent Raymond Davis and this time the rulers at federal level are the same who had earlier released the the Killer Raymond Davis. Nothing will happen so we should not be so concerned.
This time around the extradition is going to be different from Raymond Davis episode due to the absence of Pasha.
Could also be a tactic to check for security at Pakistani airports by the Americans to make sure sufficient checks are in place before people are allowed to board the flights to US/Europe etc.
@H.A. Khan:
oh..hahaa..thats hilarious...NOT! president musharraf is not going anywhere. he's going to show that he means business, and is completely innocent of the biased and vindictive court proceedings he is being forced to endure. the man has shown he is a patriot and not afraid of anything or anyone. so take that.
He will be released in 2 days! Americans have a lot of buying power!!!
This guy was coming to attend PTI Jalsa......come on!
@MS: Its the cheapest caliber that is potent enough to put down a person thus the vast majority of the shootings involve this common round. Lets not put 1 + 1 together to come up with 3 please!
I wonder what would have happend had he packed an explosive....would still call it accidential?
@Balcoh: My friend you need to refresh your understanding of laws :)
@goggi (Lahore): Maybe he was trying to sneak out a nuke and was using these bullets as a "diversion" ?
Was it a diversionary manoeuvre?
Here is a classical situaton; the man from the FBI is boarding a plain on a domestic flight with a pistol and the ammunition; the pistol gets stolen by those who handled the baggage, and the police certifies that only bullets were found in the baggage. The FBI bod keeps mum.
Rex Minor
Looks like CNN already considers him an innocent part since he was 'accidentally' carrying the bullets - I guess Americans carry out a lot of accidents... Where Muslims are concerned there are NO accidents!
Ohh Common, what if poor man forgot pack of bullets in his bag. Of course he is not a terrorist and works for US Government organization, came here to help us. He may be penalized for his mistake but why so much fuss.
Waisay .. we should give him polio drops before we deport him ;).
Haha VERY professional
One of the Biggest biased media comes and played its part ''accidentally carrying the bullets'' who the hall are you to decide that before investigation. Once again it leaves a biggest question on our arms forces that why these agents are freely doing their illegal activities in Pakistan. why can't they eradicate them once forever????????????????????????????????? are they not capable of doing that???????????????????
and by the way look at the face of the agent he is so calm and relax and it seems no worries from his face coz he knows that ''Might is right'' and soon he will be free to fly because the biased law in Pakistan implements only on Pakistanis.
So what was the fear? That he might poke somebody with the bullets? He had no gun on him!! This is obviously an oversight on his part. Sheesh!
@ Timorlane, Raymond Davis was released because the Americans used a loophole in the Pakistani Law by paying "Blood money" to the next of kin of the killed man. This one is going to be difficult, although the magnitude of punishment will be less, since there's no killing involved.
In a similar incident, an officer from NYPD was arrested for carrying four rounds of ammunition in Delhi. Americans cried foul it was a 'tit for tat' for the humiliation of the Indian Diplomat at the hands of US Marshals when she was arrested.
Yes the US are hypocrites. Yes their would be an uproar if the situation was reversed. But do you expect anything different from a wolf thsn to eat your sheep? The real criminals is every collaborator in pakistan (politicians, bureaucrat, army, security, industrialist, media) that whitewashes these incidents and takes the focus of the nation away from the real enemy, the US and engineers Pakistans own war on terror.
its human to make mistakes ..he should be released and immediately a new request for 5 BILLION for education should be sent to Washington.D.C.
So Secret hands behind the kiling of innocent people?
this flight could be another MH370 Malaysian Airline
These Americans just don't learn last month only an New York police officer was caught with a bullet in baggage at Delhi airport wonder how he surpassed USA full proof security check and scan in airport on way to Delhi. He had been detained in india and case is going on.. That was "accidentally" too. Just because america has lax gun rules in its country doesn't mean other country will tolerate it. How irresponsible even after major stand off with india over it no learning experience again go and do it in karachi. They should be severely punished. Respect laws of other countries or face consequences.
If same did by Pakistan at any US airport then what will be the reaction by US.????
Who cares, let the poor man go.
more dollars to fly in soon.
@Ahmad: I don't know the present rules, but some years back I did carry a licensed weapon on the domestic commercial flight. The security men politely asked me to show them the arms license, and asked me to place the weapon in unaccompanied baggage while they register it. If he was a FBI agents, he should have known the security rules. A magazine clip and bullets, where is the pistol? Another Raymond Davis in the making.
"FBI agent arrested in Pakistan after accidentally carrying ammunition boarding a domestic flight, official says." CNN. Well, CNN is always quick to declare a US citizen always innocent and any foreigner a criminal before any investigation is done.
An other Raymind Divous with same story...
We know this is temporary, but we apologize for detaining you, Before leaving please tell us how to apply for FBI and CIA. I want to join to serve world. Everyone is making money at every level by working with you why should not I.
The race is on: who will leave the country first him or Musharaf?
9 mm bullets were used in almost all the target killings in Karachi - interesting
@Fahad: I agree to the theory that he was evaluating our ASF as he was not caring any pistol but only the bullets and a clip. so its more of a testing then actual crime
Do you know what physical police remand means ? He is probably hanging upside down in Malir.
@Baloch, you can't be serious... license doesn't mean you can carry firearm into banks and airports.
I agree to the theory that he was evaluating our ASF as he was not caring any pistol but only the bullets and a clip. so its more of a testing then actual crime.
"Accidentally" WOW! double standards.A US agent doesn't know that any type of arms cannot be carried on an international flight,everything is OK for a US citizen? If an ISI agent would have been carrying arms on a US flight,than I'm sure that "accidentally" wouldn't have been used.Am I right ?!
very ODD for an FBI agent not to declare to the airport authorities that he will be carrying a weapon one is allowed to have a a unloaded weapon in baggage and separately certain amounts of bullets for puposes of hunting or any legitmate reason, but have to make prior arrangements with the airline and have the inspection done at the airport ! don't know how a federal agent did not know this ? their is something else going here ?
Pretty funny that ever American caught killing Pakistanis / hitting Pakistanis with fast moving vehicles / carrying arms turns out to be a "diplomat". This US "diplomat" will soon be released with due awe and respect by those patriotic people who got Raymond Davis released and sent to US in style
@Baloch: it is my friend. even if you have a valid license.
regards, former CAA employee
Carrying firearms or ammunition aboard commercial flights is prohibited.emphasized text Dear its not, if you have a valid license !
Surely an American would not know that carrying ammunition aboard a flight is not allowed.
LOL at "accidentally". Ya right ...
CNN adds "accidentally" for acts done by US agents, but completely ignores this word incase of Non-US agents.. Biased, aren't we ?
All Pakistani TV channels will report that he broke the law. While one specific Pakistani TV channel will report that he ACCIDENTALLY broke the law which he dint mean to break.
Unknown to those who arrested him this stunt was preparatory to the training Cox is going to provide to Pak police officers. An FBI agent would know for sure that he would get caught but the whole excrcise was meant to evaluate ASF efficiency & subsequent police procedures.
An FBI agent carrying fifteen bullets and arrested at Karachi airport, smells fishy. If he is there to train police officers then obviously, prior arrangements must have been made to receive him and instruct him not to carry firearms aboard a civilian flight. Smells even more fishy. Salams
Rules are Rules for everyone.
That is totally unprofessional, living far away I could smell that.