Gatwick Passenger Jailed After Knife Found In Luggage

Passengers travelling through Gatwick Airport are being reminded to check their luggage carefully after a Crawley man was jailed for carrying a locking knife.

Franco Vences arrived at the airport on 1 December 2023 without a ticket, intending to travel to Texas in the United States.

At the check-in desk, he placed a bag on the baggage belt and told a member of staff not to touch it or she would get hurt.

When another employee asked what was inside, Vences replied: “C-4” — referring to a type of plastic explosive.

Police were called and searched his luggage, finding a black-handled locking knife with a six-centimetre blade.

Vences, who's 39 and from St Andrews Road in Crawley, was arrested and charged with possessing a bladed article in a public place.

He initially denied the offence before later pleading guilty.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday 10 September, he was sentenced to five months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Ian Warncken, from Gatwick CID, said the incident had the potential to cause a major security alert at an airport used by tens of thousands of people every day.

He said passengers should familiarise themselves with airport security rules and check their luggage before arriving.

Police say carrying a locking knife is a criminal offence unless there is an extremely good reason for having it, and forgetting that it is in your luggage is not considered a sufficient defence.

More information about preparing for security at Gatwick Airport is available from the airport's website.