Buzz
In 2021, approximately 22.2 million flights operated domestically and internationally, with around two million passengers traveling daily. To ensure safety, the TSA has established strict regulations on what can be carried onboard or placed in checked luggage.
Beyond ensuring passenger and crew safety, there are also agricultural regulations designed to stop the introduction of animals, pests, or food items that might carry diseases or disrupt local ecosystems.
However, in any system with rules, there will always be individuals who attempt to bypass them, either believing they won’t be caught or that their method of smuggling prohibited items is flawless.
Here are 10 unusual stories of items passengers have tried to sneak through airport security, thinking they could avoid detection.
10. Albino Alligator
Albino alligators are extremely rare, with fewer than 200 existing worldwide. Their lack of pigmentation makes survival in the wild challenging, as they cannot camouflage, are vulnerable to sun overexposure, and suffer from poor vision.
Unfortunately, their scarcity makes them prime targets for smugglers, who can sell them for prices ranging from $20,000 to $2 million.
On September 25, 2022, a 42-year-old American man traveling from Germany to Singapore attempted to transport one of these rare creatures. Customs officials were shocked to discover a 3-foot (1-meter) albino alligator hidden in his suitcase during a routine security check.
The alligator, except for its nostrils, was entirely wrapped in cling film and duct tape. Fortunately, it was still alive, though in poor condition. Customs officers and a veterinarian collaborated to rescue the animal, which was later transferred to a reptile sanctuary.
The man’s cell phone was seized, and he was fined. Legal and criminal investigations into the incident are still ongoing.
9. Six-Day-Old Newborn
Jennifer Talbot, 42, was set to fly from Manila, Philippines, to Columbus, Ohio, on September 4, 2019. Unbeknownst to others, she had secretly hidden a valuable item—a six-day-old infant boy.
Talbot had concealed the baby in an oversized carry-on bag and successfully passed through immigration. However, she was intercepted by authorities just before boarding the plane, leading to the discovery of the infant.
Initially, Talbot stated the child was her nephew but failed to provide any supporting documents. She later presented an affidavit, allegedly from the baby’s mother, granting her permission to travel with the newborn. However, the affidavit lacked the mother’s signature.
Talbot was taken into custody, and the infant was placed under the care of the Social Welfare Department. She faced charges of human trafficking and kidnapping.
8. African Fox Head
On September 12, 2019, a mother and daughter traveling from Senegal attempted to carry an unusual “gift” with them to the United States.
Upon arrival at Philadelphia International Airport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials found an 8-inch (20-centimeter) African fox skull in their luggage, fully intact with fur and teeth.
The travelers claimed the skull was intended as a present for their cousin, who wanted to use it to “repel evil spirits.” However, they ultimately chose to surrender the item to customs officials.
7. Missile Launcher
On July 29, 2019, a U.S. military service member returning from Kuwait decided to bring an unexpected item that alarmed TSA officials—a missile launcher.
TSA agents at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport discovered the military weapon. The passenger, detained for questioning, explained that he intended to keep the missile launcher as a souvenir.
Fortunately, the launcher was inactive and was safely handled and disposed of by the state fire marshal.
6. One-Month-Old Leopard Cub
Leopards in Asia and Africa are endangered due to habitat destruction, illegal wildlife trade, trophy hunting, and ceremonial use of their skins. Despite the illegality of smuggling these animals, one man attempted to transport a one-month-old leopard cub in his luggage on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, to Chennai, India.
The 45-year-old passenger’s scheme was quickly disrupted when his small companion began crying upon arrival in Chennai on February 2, 2019. Suspicious officials noticed the man attempting to flee the terminal to avoid questioning. Upon inspecting his luggage, they found a 2.2-pound (1-kilogram) leopard cub hidden inside a plastic grocery basket.
The cub, visibly in shock, was bottle-fed and examined by a veterinarian before being sent to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai for care.
The incident was referred to the state’s wildlife crime bureau to investigate whether the passenger was involved in a broader smuggling network.
5. Gun in Raw Chicken
According to TSA regulations, unloaded firearms can be transported in checked baggage if they are secured in a locked container and declared at the ticket counter. Additionally, food items like meat and vegetables are permitted in carry-on or checked bags, provided they are packed with ice or frozen gel packs.
However, one bold traveler heading to Haiti chose to disregard both regulations and attempted to hide a gun in an unusual manner—by embedding it inside a raw chicken. Fortunately, TSA agents at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Florida International Airport detected the “stuffed poultry” on September 27, 2022.
No specific information was released about the passenger or the charges, but Homeland Security confirmed that the incident was part of an “ongoing criminal case accepted for prosecution.”
4. Egyptian Mummy Parts
On February 24, 2019, a Belgian traveler tried to hide parts of two Egyptian mummies inside a speaker within their luggage. However, their clever plan was foiled when an X-ray scan revealed images of mummified remains—two feet, two legs, the lower section of a left hand, an arm, and part of a torso.
Customs officials at Cairo International Airport seized the remains, which were later verified as genuine by an archaeological committee. The confiscated body parts were sent to an Egyptian museum for restoration.
3. 22 Pounds of Illegal Meat
On February 4, 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials uncovered something highly unusual during a baggage inspection at Dallas Fort Worth Airport.
A woman traveling from Vietnam submitted a negative customs declaration but was secretly carrying 22 pounds (10 kilograms) of prohibited animal meat and body parts. The contraband was found after her luggage was selected for a thorough inspection.
The woman faced no charges, and all the illegal meat was confiscated and destroyed.
2. $770K in Cash
On March 1, 2015, 48-year-old Abdulkarim Altareb was traveling from New York to Qatar. When customs officials asked him to declare the amount of cash he was carrying, he falsely claimed to have only $6,500.
A further inspection of his luggage revealed over $770,000 hidden inside boxes of Alka-Seltzer, Thera-Flu, Dove soap, Band-Aids, and Splenda, all in $50 and $100 bills.
During questioning by Homeland Security, Altareb stated that the money belonged to his family and was intended for construction projects in Yemen.
Altareb was charged with “bulk cash smuggling.” Investigations revealed he operated an unlicensed money transfer service and committed fraud related to food stamp applications, tax returns, and citizenship applications. On May 10, 2017, he was sentenced to four years and three months in prison.
1. Cocaine Hidden in Fried Fish
Although illegal drugs are strictly prohibited on flights, a 38-year-old woman thought she could deceive authorities by concealing cocaine inside fried blowfish in her luggage.
The woman was traveling from Jamaica to Miami, Florida. Upon her arrival at Miami International Airport on June 13, 2015, an X-ray scan of her luggage uncovered something even more unusual than carrying fried fish.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers observed that certain fish appeared unusually bulky, with stitch marks on their stomachs suggesting they had been sewn shut. Upon further inspection, they found 2.3 pounds (1 kilogram) of cocaine concealed inside the fish.
The cocaine was confiscated, and the woman was taken into custody.
