If you want to see some seriously strange characters, the airport is the place to visit. Every year, airport security workers are forced to deal with people who attempt to break the rules by sneaking strange objects onto airplanes. While most of these items are confiscated, it doesn’t seem to prevent people from trying.
In this article, we will be discussing 27 of the strangest objects that have been confiscated by airport security. The list includes a wide range of items, including dead and living animal species, weapons of different kinds, drugs, and even millions of dollars in gold bars.
A Goldfish
At an airport in the US, the security team opened a suitcase to find a goldfish hidden in between the passengers’ clothing.
When asked about the fish, the passenger claimed to have no idea where it had come from. Though this seems to be unlikely, the man was free to travel after the fish had been confiscated.
In the end, the goldfish was handed over to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
A Wooden Hammer
As crazy as it may sound, airport security workers in Dubai once found a wooden hammer hidden in a passenger’s suitcase.
According to the man, he had personally carved the item in order to practice his fighting skills.
In the end, the weapon was confiscated due to the fact that bludgeons are prohibited in carry-on luggage.
A Gas Mask with Bullets Attached
When this item was found by airport security staff, they didn’t really know what they were looking at…
At an airport in China, a strange-looking face mask with real bullets scattered around the surface was picked up by metal detectors.
Even though masks are not prohibited, the security team decided to confiscate the item due to the fact that it looks like the property of a revolutionary mercenary.
Baby Crocodiles
Transporting live animals is always tricky… However, traveling with a crate full of baby crocodiles is an entirely different story.
A passenger traveling from Bangladesh to Bangkok was approached by security after seven freshwater crocodile babies were found hidden in his suitcase.
In the end, the man was obviously detained, and the crocodiles were sent to wildlife protection.
Millions of Dollars in Gold Bullion
Can you imagine finding a crate full of gold bars in a passenger’s main luggage?
The airport security staff in Mumbai immediately noticed that something was off after weighing the suitcase of this passenger.
After opening the bag, they were surprised to find over 1.2 million dollars worth of gold bullion hidden in a wooden crate. How did this passenger possibly think that he would get away with it?
A Crate of Cannonballs
A couple of hundred years ago, cannonballs were a very common item to travel with. However, in today’s world, the only place you would find a cannonball is in a museum.
A team of airport security staff found a crate full of cannonballs hidden in between the luggage of a passenger traveling from Spain to India.
Again, we are curious to know how this man thought he would get away with transporting a crate that weighed more than 100 kgs.
A Pistol in a PC
TSA agents at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport found a loaded pistol hidden in a passenger’s main luggage.
To make matters even stranger, the gun was placed inside an old PC and wrapped in multi-colored playdough.
The pistol was obviously confiscated. On top of this, the passenger was sent back to the country from which he had just come.
A Belt with a Hidden Knife
You may see weapons hidden in articles of clothing in different movies… However, it is very rare for people to actually design their own defensive clothing.
A man was stopped at an airport in Detroit after security staff found a hidden blade tucked away in his belt buckle.
We have no idea why he decided to wear this particular belt – all we can say is thank goodness the TSA workers were able to point it out.
Ninja Stars
At an airport in Germany, a man was pulled aside by security staff after a total of six ninja stars were found in his carry-on luggage.
When asked about the weapons, the man claimed that they were actually Christmas decorations…
This obviously did not fly, and the stars were quickly confiscated. The man was then questioned by police for trying to smuggle dangerous objects onto a plane.
Pigeons
Even though they often find peculiar items, finding unregistered animals in luggage is always a strange experience for security staff.
At an airport in San Diego, TSA workers discovered a pigeon hidden in the carry-on of a passenger traveling from the US to France.
We have no idea why he felt the need to smuggle a pigeon across the world, but his mission was unsuccessful regardless.
Money Hidden in a Pastry
Most experienced travelers are aware of the fact that food cannot be carried onto the plane unless it has been bought at the airport.
However, this man saw no issue in bringing a full pie onto the plane with him. But when stopped at security, TSA workers quickly discovered that there was more to this pie than they initially thought.
After scanning the hidden pie, hundreds of thousands of dollars were found inside the pastry.
A Lipstick Taser
One of the strangest weapons ever found by airport security has to be a lipstick taser.
After setting off the metal detectors, a woman was found to be in possession of a pink taser.
Even though she claimed that the weapon was for protection purposes, it was quickly confiscated by security workers.
Snakes
Finding deceased wildlife hidden in between the luggage of a passenger is another strange experience that many security workers are forced to handle.
After identifying strange shapes inside the luggage of this passenger, TSA workers opened his bag to find packets filled with dead venomous snakes.
The man was forced to pay a hefty fine and sent home.
Dried Caterpillars
In some countries, dried insects are seen as a tasty snack.
However, they will still be confiscated if found in your carry-on luggage.
This man was forced to pay a fine after a bag full of hundreds of dried caterpillars was found in his suitcase.
A Pug
Stashing a pug away in your main luggage is simply cruel.
A team of airport security staff found a young pug hidden away in between the clothing of a passenger traveling from the US to England.
An Urn Hidden in Protein Powder
There are plenty of ways to go about transporting your loved ones’ ashes…
However, hiding the urn in a tub of protein powder is definitely not the best method.
After locating the item, it was quickly confiscated, and the passenger was forced to pay a fine.
Cocaine Hidden in Goat Meat
TSA workers have found plenty of drugs at the airport.
However, locating cocaine hidden in goat meat was definitely a new experience for this security team.
A Child
Can you imagine finding a child curled up in a passenger’s main luggage?
This mother was quickly arrested after her daughter was found tucked away in between her clothing.
A Baby Monkey
Airport security staff at Dubai airport once found a baby monkey tucked away in the carry-on luggage of a passenger.
The monkey was sent to wildlife services, and the passenger was forced to pay a hefty fine.
Do people seriously believe that they will get away with smuggling animals across the world?
Human Blood
To this day, TSA workers still do not understand why this passenger was attempting to transport human blood.
After scanning her luggage, a container filled with real blood was found hidden between clothing.
Part of a Mummy
One of the most iconic items ever found at an airport was part of a real-life mummy.
This passenger was caught trying to smuggle a tsantsa, or shrunken head, across the country.
However, her mission was obviously unsuccessful after the preserved head was picked up by scanners.
An Octopus
At an airport in Australia, a dead octopus was found tucked away in the main luggage of a passenger’s suitcase.
In the end, the man was forced to pay a hefty fine and sent home.
Cocaine Hidden in Peanut Butter
People really get creative when it comes to hiding drugs…
Nearly one kilogram of cocaine was found stashed away in a container of peanut butter.
The man attempting to smuggle the drugs was arrested, and the cocaine was confiscated.
Grenades Hidden in Christmas Decorations
For some reason, people think that Christmas decorations are a good disguise for weapons…
In the US, airport security found eight grenades hidden amongst baubles in the main luggage of a passenger.
200 Tarantulas
At an airport in Australia, TSA workers found a total of 200 dead tarantula’s stashed away in plastic bags.
We have no idea why this passenger was trying to smuggle dead spiders across the country.
Regardless, the spiders were confiscated, and the passenger sent home.
Hundreds of iPhones
This young man attempted to board a plane with hundreds of iPhones strapped to his body.
However, after setting off the metal detector, security staff quickly discovered his plan.
The phones were confiscated, and the man had to pay a rather hefty fine.
51 Tropical Fish
For some reason, TSA workers often see people trying to smuggle fish.
At an airport in Canada, security staff found a total of 50 different fish species stashed away in a passenger’s main luggage.
The fish were sent to wildlife services while the man had to pay a fine.
Summary
Every year, airport security workers are forced to deal with strange characters who attempt to break the rules by sneaking peculiar objects onto airplanes.
In this article, we discussed some of the weirdest items that have been confiscated by airport security. This includes numerous live and dead animals, weapons, body parts, and drugs.