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When traveling by air, most passengers focus on their boarding passes and luggage. However, airport security personnel, particularly those with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), encounter a range of unusual and sometimes dangerous items at checkpoints. The TSA was created post-9/11 to enhance airport security in the United States, but peculiar finds are not exclusive to American airports.
Concealed weapons are a common issue at U.S. airports. TSA agents have discovered firearms hidden in raw chicken at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and disassembled guns inside LEGO boxes at Newark Liberty International Airport. "Both passengers, who were trying to smuggle guns, were arrested and faced legal consequences," according to reports.
Sharp objects have also been found hidden in unexpected places like food and musical instruments. Despite attempts to conceal them, TSA agents are trained to detect such anomalies. The Wall Street Journal reported that over 6,500 firearms were found at checkpoints in 2022 alone.
