FBI director Kash Patel gave New Zealand's police and spy bosses gifts of inoperable pistols that were illegal to possess under local gun laws and had to be destroyed, on a visit to the country earlier this year, local law enforcement agencies have told The Associated Press.

The plastic 3D-printed replica pistols formed part of the display stands Mr Patel presented to at least three senior New Zealand security officials in July.

Mr Patel, the most senior Trump administration official to visit the country so far, was in Wellington to open the FBI's first standalone office in New Zealand.

Pistols are tightly restricted weapons under New Zealand law and possessing one requires an additional permit beyond a regular gun license.

Law enforcement agencies did not specify whether the officials

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