An Italian national was detained at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad on Tuesday after he was found carrying 22 live bullets and three used bullets. The man, identified as Nicole Sangermano, had visited the country for the F1H2O racing championship that recently took place in Vijayawada in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh.
Security personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) said that the ammunition was found in the man's cabin baggage as he was headed to Dubai, and said that he was into the sports marketing business in Abu Dhabi.
“Nicole said that his son left before him and some of his luggage might have been in the bags he carried to RGI Airport. Nicole claimed his son has a fire arms licence,” Shamshabad DCP N Prakash Reddy was quoted as saying.
The accused was detained under the Arms Act.
Earlier this week, Andhra Pradesh’s capital Amaravati hosted the sixth round of F1H2O World Championship on the banks of the Krishna river from November 16 to 18. Nineteen Formula 1 drivers, nine Formula 4 drivers across 12 countries arrived in the city, along with 21 large containers carrying 10 Formula 1 boats and 10 Formula 4 boats, from the Krishnapatnam port.
The Formula 1 Power Boating race made a comeback to India 14 years after Mumbai hosted it for the first time back in 2004.
This is also the only F1 event to be recognised by the International Olympic Committee. Organisers said that this was an Olympic event long ago and that they are trying to revive it.
The 23-km stretch along the Krishna turned into a carnival site celebrating the best of the sport along with a host of other exciting activities to engage the crowd and showcase the arts, culture and cuisine of Andhra Pradesh.