Friday, June 15, 2012

TSA Week in Review: Live Blasting Cap Discovered in Carry-on Bag at Medford


Live Blasting Cap – A live blasting cap was discovered in a passenger’s carry-on bag at Redmond (RDM). If you’re not familiar with blasting caps, they are actually a small explosive charge that sets off a larger explosive charge. It’s one of the components of a bomb that our officers are trained to look for.The passenger was arrested by local law enforcement.


Cell Phone Stun Gun – Astun gun made to look like a cell phone was discovered at Indianapolis (IND). 10 other stun guns were discovered at checkpoints around the nation at: BUR, BWI, CAK, 2 at DEN, GSP, HRL, SAN, and 2 at SFO.

Body Scanner Discoveries This Week – There were a total of 9 illegal and prohibited items discovered this week with the body scanners at BNA, DRO, EWR, HNL, LAX, LIH, PBI, SEA, and SMF. Among the items were a tube of toothpaste stuffed in a passenger’s waistband and drugs. Finding these types of items in areas where explosives could also be hidden is a testament that the technology works.

Walking on a Razor’s Edge - A razor blade was found concealed in the sole of a shoe at LaGuardia (LGA).

People Say the Darndest Things – Here is an example of what not to say at the airport. Statements like these not only delay the people who said them but can also inconvenience lots of other passengers if the checkpoint has to be evacuated:

After missing a flight at Denver (DEN), a passenger told the gate agent: “I am going to blow up Southwest Airlines!”

While and officer was explaining the pat-down procedure to a passenger at Birmingham (BHM), she stated: “ I very well could have two bombs in my breasts.” When a supervisor arrived to speak with the passenger, she told them the same thing.

Miscellaneous Prohibited Items - In addition to all of the other prohibited items we find weekly, our Officers also found firearm components, realistic replica firearms, stun guns, brass knuckles, ammunition, batons, and oodles of knives.

Firearms - Here are the firearms our Officers found in carry-on baggage since I posted last Friday.












You can travel with your firearms in checked baggage, but they must first be declared to the airline. You can go here for more details on how to properly travel with your firearms. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure.

Unfortunately these sorts of occurrences are all too frequent which is why we talk about these finds. Sure, it’s great to share the things that our officers are finding, but at the same time, each time we find a dangerous item, the throughput is slowed down and a passenger that likely had no ill intent ends up with a citation or in some cases is even arrested. This is a friendly reminder to please leave these items at home. Just because we find a prohibited item on an individual does not mean they had bad intentions, that's for the law enforcement officer to decide. In many cases, people simply forgot they had these items.




Blogger Bob Burns
TSA Blog Team

If you have a travel related issue or question that needs an immediate answer, you can contact a Customer Support Manager at the airport you traveled, or will be traveling through by using Talk to TSA.

Posted by Blogger Bob at 6/15/2012 03:43:00 PM

The TSA Blog: TSA Week in Review: Live Blasting Cap Discovered in Carry-on Bag at Medford