The so-called “Bunker Busters” were found wrapped in cellophane in the back of their van during a routine search by a customs official in the French port.
“He asked if they had anything to declare while they were queuing up for the ferry,” said an investigating source.
“The reply from the young couple was a simple yes – they wanted to declare two rocket launchers and other military equipment that they had been given in Ukraine while on a humanitarian mission.”
Beyond the rocket launchers – which were thought to be American-made M141s – there were 14 bullet casings in the boot, and the remains of a bulletproof jacket that had been shot to pieces.
An emergency was declared, and people evacuated from the area before bomb disposal experts were scrambled to the port.
All of it was found to be “decommissioned”, but was destroyed anyway, said the investigating source.
The couple, who have not been identified, were arrested on May 7 before appearing in court this week.
They said the equipment represented “symbols of victory” that they had been given as presents while working in Ukraine.
“I’m not a collector,” said one of the defendants. “They were gifts in thanks – symbols of the victory of the Ukrainians, which earned us a lot of trouble at the border.”
His partner said they had been in Ukraine for four days, adding: “We contacted the English authorities who told us that it was possible to come back with such equipment.
“Unfortunately for us – and we found out the hard way – the transportation of this kind of thing is prohibited in France.”
The couple were handed a customs fine after being convicted of “transporting Category C weapons without legitimate reason”.
Disposable single-shot, shoulder-fired rocket launchers such as the M141 are widely used by the Ukrainians in the war against Russia.
