Buzz
Airport security often conjures images of weapon searches, particularly for firearms. In 2012, the US Transportation Security Administration discovered 828 guns in carry-on luggage, with 210 of them loaded and ready to fire. However, many people are unaware that security officials also confiscate a variety of unusual and unexpected items.
10. Stun Gun Disguised as Lipstick
At a small international airport in Burlington, Vermont, security personnel recently flagged a young woman’s carry-on bag due to a suspicious lipstick container. Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was a 350,000-volt stun gun cleverly designed to resemble an everyday cosmetic. These deceptive devices are available online for less than $25. The passenger was forced to surrender her disguised weapon and rely solely on her natural charm.
9. A Severed Seal Head
In 2004, a biology professor was detained by airport security after they discovered the decapitated head of a harbor seal in his carry-on luggage. He explained that he had found the deceased seal during his vacation and removed its head to serve as a teaching aid for his students during their marine mammal studies. However, dismembering dead animals and transporting their remains is against the law. Although he was permitted to continue his journey, he had to leave the seal head behind.
8. Heroin Concealed in Chocolate
In 2009, Edny Barzo was intercepted at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York due to an unusual quantity of chocolate bars in his luggage. Upon further examination, authorities discovered that the chocolates were cleverly disguised packages containing a significant amount of heroin. What appeared to be a harmless treat was, in fact, $400,000 worth of illegal drugs. Barzo’s plan was foiled by New York officers, who are experts at detecting sophisticated concealment techniques.
7. Edible Caterpillars
On February 23, 2013, UK border agents at Gatwick Airport uncovered thousands of dried caterpillars in the luggage of a traveler arriving from Burkina Faso. The four suitcases collectively held over 90 kilograms (200 lbs) of the insects. Despite the man’s claim that they were for personal consumption, UK regulations prohibit the import of dried insects. His unusual snack was confiscated, leaving him to settle for the airline’s complimentary peanuts.
6. Hallodapus
In 2009, customs officials at Newark Airport in New Jersey encountered an unusual intruder attempting to bypass security. A Hallodapus bug was found concealed within a shipment of thyme from Israel. This marked the first recorded instance of this pest being identified in the United States, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
Classified as a 'quarantine pest,' this orange insect poses a potential threat to the US agricultural sector, valued at trillions of dollars, by potentially spreading plant diseases. Authorities might want to consider stocking up on heavy-duty insect repellent to combat such risks.
5. Chameleon Hat
In 2002, a 17-year-old girl arriving from Dubai was detained at Manchester Airport due to her unusual headwear. She had a rare chameleon perched on her headscarf, which she had bought at a market in Saudi Arabia. Initially, fellow passengers mistook it for a plastic decoration—until they noticed its tongue darting out. The lizard, her exotic pet, was affectionately named 'Hattie.' Unfortunately, Hattie was confiscated by Customs and Excise officials.
4. A Pair of Pigeons
In 2009, an Australian man traveling back from Dubai was caught with two live pigeons concealed in padded envelopes strapped to his calves and hidden beneath black tights. Australia enforces strict penalties for animal smuggling, with offenders facing up to 16 years in prison and substantial fines.
3. A Corpse
In 2010, 91-year-old Curt Will Jarant, accompanied by his wife and daughter, was traveling from Berlin to Manchester. Mr. Jarant, who was wheelchair-bound and battling Alzheimer’s, was also wearing dark sunglasses due to a recent eye infection.
While checking in at the terminal, airport staff noticed the elderly man slumped motionless in his wheelchair. His family insisted he was merely asleep, claiming, 'He always sleeps like that.' However, authorities grew suspicious upon touching his icy-cold skin. It was later revealed that the family had attempted to avoid the fees associated with transporting a deceased body by disguising his condition.
2. Opium Cats
In January 2011, a shipment of decorative cat statues arrived at JFK Airport in New York from Thailand. Labeled as 'plastic samples' by US Customs and Border Protection, the cargo was headed to an address in New York with no identifiable sender. Federal agents grew wary of the unusually large shipment and, upon inspecting the life-sized figures, uncovered $9 million worth of pure opium concealed inside.
1. Dagger Hairbrush
At a small Virginia airport, security scanners detected a suspicious hairbrush in a woman’s bag. The bristles appeared oddly constructed, prompting further investigation. Upon closer examination, agents discovered a ceramic dagger hidden within the brush. The woman willingly handed over the item, was allowed to board her flight, and now faces the task of finding a new hairbrush.
