The art of hiding things is, well, quite something.
The TSA works hard to keep travelers from slipping odd items into their carry-on bags. Yet, there always seem to be those who think the regulations don’t apply to them.
Despite airports enhancing security with measures like Real ID requirements and biometric face scanning, officers still catch passengers attempting to smuggle everything from BB guns to martial arts weapons through the checkpoints.
The effort that some go to in order to conceal these banned items can be downright puzzling.
“It’s a bit of a shakeup when you see passengers putting forth a significant effort to hide things,” shared Gabriel Connor Findley, a TSA officer at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). “It makes the job more interesting and challenging,” he elaborated.
In an effort to deter potential smugglers, a compilation was made of some of the most unusual items passengers attempted to sneak through airports across the nation in 2025, according to the TSA.
Will you gently kill me with his song?
Last October, TSA agents at EWR found a handgun cleverly concealed inside a guitar case, reminiscent of something straight out of a 1995 action film.
“It’s clear the officers are really focused, and I am quite proud of that,” Findley noted. “We are well-trained, always alert.”
When confronted by Port Authority police about the concealed weapon, the individual claimed ignorance regarding any firearms.
“He mentioned that the guitar case was a gift,” Findley recalled. “He claimed he didn’t know it was there.”
Actual shoot case
In late June, TSA officers at EWR spotted potential dangers during X-ray screenings and informed Port Authority Police.
A search revealed a BB gun concealed within the lining of the traveler’s luggage.
Death star
While firearms are frequently intercepted by the TSA, less conventional items also make an appearance—like ninja weapons.
In December, small metal blades, known as shuriken, were detected at EWR Terminal A. Findley described it as “very strange.”
“It’s not something you see every day,” she said. “You have to double, even triple-check it. It’s like, ‘Is this really what I think it is?'”
Shocking discovery
At Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), TSA officers were taken aback when they caught a passenger attempting to sneak a flashlight Taser past the checkpoint in mid-September.
The police confirmed it was indeed a concealed stun gun and subsequently handed it over to the TSA for disposal.
Findley mentioned that spotting such items on X-rays can be tricky, given that individuals often disguise weapons to appear like normal objects.
“That police officer was quite sharp,” she remarked.
His eyes were really sharp
Among the seized items were what appeared to be KGB spy films. In July, a hidden knife was discovered inside a passenger’s belt buckle at BWI.
Maryland Transit Authority Police conducted an investigation, and the passenger willingly surrendered the item to TSA.
Real hair cutter
It seems travelers aren’t the only ones trying to sneak items in. An EWR employee was arrested in Terminal B with a money-themed comb knife.
Findley emphasized that TSA security measures are impartial, stating, “The agency doesn’t overlook anything, regardless of whether you are an employee.”
A flying capsule?
Curiously, drugs have also been found in unconventional hiding spots. In December, TSA officers at BWI discovered a passenger trying to conceal drugs in paper towels stuffed inside his shoes.
Authorities were notified, leading to a search and seizure.
Case of mistaken IED entity
No TSA seizure list would be complete without some misunderstanding. In October, officers at EWR uncovered what they believed was a “bomb,” only to realize it was a Montessori switchboard toy.
Its array of buttons and wires resembled an improvised explosive device (IED), prompting a law enforcement response that included experts on explosives.
Such cases of mistaken identity happen more frequently than one might think.
“Certain toys can skew the image if they’re placed close to other items,” Findley explained. “We indeed see many household items that look like other things,” she added. “But thankfully, for everyone onboard, it was just a box of cereal.”
