Sen. Jeff Wilson of Washington state was arrested at the Hong Kong airport by Chinese authorities on Friday, NBC News reported.
Wilson’s office said the Longview Republican was detained over the possession of an unregistered firearm. Wilson reportedly found an unloaded pistol in his carry-on bag that somehow made it through the Portland airport and reported it to Chinese customs officials.
“It was an honest mistake, and I expect the situation to be resolved shortly,” he said in a statement.
According to his statement, Wilson discovered the weapon during a flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong after reaching in his bag for a piece of gum.
His office said he immediately alerted customs authorities after landing in China, and claimed that reports it was discovered at a bag check were false.
Wilson’s pistol is properly registered in Washington state and he has a concealed carry permit, but it is not legal to bring to China.
According to Hong Kong’s public broadcaster RTHK, Wilson appeared in court Monday to face the charge of possession of arms without a license and was granted bail.
Under Hong Kong law, it is illegal to carry a firearm without a license. Offenders face a fine of up to $12,800 dollars and can be sentenced to up to 14 years if convicted.
However, typically the Magistrates’ Courts grant a maximum two-year sentence for cases they handle, the judiciary’s website said.
Wilson’s office announced that the flight to Hong Kong is part of a five-week, personally funded vacation to Southeast Asia.
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article