A passenger was detained for possession of a firearm on July 10 while attempting to pass through the TSA checkpoint at the Wrangell airport. He was not charged.

The unnamed individual’s carry-on bag was flagged and found to contain a firearm.

According to Wrangell Police Chief Gene Meek, the gun was a 9 mm “ghost gun.” Meek confiscated the firearm for investigation and collection of ballistics information.

“What makes it a ‘ghost gun’ is the fact that the lower portion — the grip and trigger guard — are 3D printed. There is no serial number, except for a number the individual had etched under the barrel himself,” Meek explained.

“The rack at the top of the pistol is from a different gun manufacturer, designed to look like a Glock. And the barrel is a chrome barrel that has been tooled to have threads at the end where it can house a silencer.”

Meek said the pistol did have an attachment affixed to the barrel where a silencer could be placed.

“The gun was unloaded, but there was a bag with various types of ammunition in it, also in his bag,” he said. “The magazines for the pistol were located with his checked luggage.”

The chief said the individual was traveling to Anchorage and is from Washington state, and doesn’t have enough of a criminal record that would prohibit him from owning a firearm.

“He had some other firearms, but they were properly checked in like they needed to be,” Meek said. “He claims he just forgot the pistol was in his bag.”

Wrangell police have concluded their investigation and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives is now investigating. The chief still has possession of the pistol and said he will fire a couple of rounds to collect ballistics information to share with the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network.

“If everything with the individual and the pistol comes back clean, then the man can get his pistol back,” Meek said.

“Obviously, you should follow all rules and regulations when traveling with a firearm,” the chief said. “But you should also be aware of the other regulations regarding knives and blades. You should always double check to make sure you aren’t carrying anything you shouldn’t be carrying.”

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Biden-era law in March that regulates ghost guns like a regular firearm.