NOVOKUZNETSK — A man in Siberia reeled in more than he bargained for on a recent fishing trip, when he landed a stash containing a sawn-off shotgun and grenade and arms parts, local police said Wednesday.
The resident of Novokuznetsk had just started fishing in a river from a boat when he felt something heavy on the end of his line. When he reeled in his catch, the man discovered he had caught a sack of rusty armaments, police said in a statement.
The sack contained a sawn-off shotgun, 10 grenade parts, gun bolts and other weapon parts, the statement said, without specifying when the man had made his catch.
It was not clear as of Wednesday who the stash belonged to or how it had ended up in the river.
"For some time, the fisherman kept his haul at home, as he didn't know what to do with it," police said.
He took the miniature arms depot to the law enforcement authorities during a local operation when residents could hand in weapons in exchange for money. The fisherman will receive 6,500 rubles ($201) for his catch.
Under the arms amnesty, the region's police have collected over 23,000 cartridges, 56 grenades and 50 kg of explosives since May.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
