According to figures released by the Australian Federal Police Since October last year, 81 credit card knives have been seized at airports around Australia. 22 of the 81 knives seized were seized in September.
A spokesperson for the AFP commented that Despite the obvious danger an item such as this poses, airport screening is detecting – and the AFP are seizing – more and more of these knives at Australian airports. Credit card knives are not a novelty item – they are not toys. They are a dangerous weapon, they are illegal and they are banned from being taken on domestic and international flights. All states and territories have offences applicable to the possession of a knife without a lawful or reasonable excuse. The Spokesperson added that buying credit card knives is also illegal in most states and territories.
The spokesperson went on to explain that the penalty for possession of a credit card knife in the states and territories ranges from a $1,400 fine or imprisonment for six months or both to 14 years imprisonment.