An American national of Tongan ethnicity has been charged for bribery of a public official and illegal possession of arms and ammunition after he attempted to smuggle firearms past security officials at Fiji‘s Nadi Airport last week.

According to media reports, the accused Sonny David Bernard Blake (29) was arrested on Wednesday November 13 when he arrived at Nadi Airport from Los Angeles, and allegedly tried to bribe custom officers with USD $40  in an attempt to prevent them from searching his baggage.

The officers discovered four firearms along with ammunition. The firearms included a Dairy Shotgun, two Colt Automatic Calibre 25 spring powered guns and one Walter 6mm pistol.

Blake, a taxi driver from the state of Nevada, appeared at the Nadi Magistrate's Court charged with one count of bribery of a public official and another count of illegal possessing firearms and ammunition. He was released on $2500 bail and allowed to travel to the Lau Islands for a week. He is not allowed to depart Fiji and is due to face court on December 2.