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SALT LAKE CITY — A Chinese woman visiting the U.S. is being accused of having an undeclared firearm in her luggage while trying to board a Provo flight. On March 20, Transportation Security Administration agents at the Provo Airport discovered a black Rossi Braztech Int’l .357 revolver pistol in the checked luggage of Xuemei Zhao, 53, of China, according to court documents. TSA agents reported the luggage was destined for Dallas–Fort Worth through an American Airlines flight. "In addition to the firearm, Zhao had 9 rounds of .357 ammunition in her carry-on luggage," the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Utah said in a press release. According to court documents, Zhao did not disclose the firearm or ammunition to TSA or American Airlines. With the help of an interpreter, Zhao was provided with an Advice of Rights, and a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent interviewed her. "Zhao stated that she arrived in the U.S. in March 2024 on a tourist visa. Zhao stated that she had married a man in June of 2024 and that her husband had given her the revolver," court documents stated. "Zhao stated that she brought the revolver with her into Utah from another state." The FBI agent reported that they contacted a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and informed them that Zhao arrived on a tourist visa. According to court documents, Zhao had a "pending asylum application, and that she was not a lawful permanent resident of the U.S," since she did not have a "'green card'" Zhao was charged with possession of a firearm by a restricted person, according to court documents.
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