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The 5 Craziest Items People Tried to Sneak By the TSA in June

June 30, 2016
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3 min read
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The 5 Craziest Items People Tried to Sneak By the TSA in June
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Every week, the TSA blogs about items (mostly weapons) that agents have confiscated at airports around the country, and the agency posts some of the crazier items on its Instagram page. Check out the 5 items that we at Team TPG think are the most ridiculous items that were confiscated this month. Once again we're happy to see that the TSA has prevented these items from being smuggled on board aircraft with hundreds of other passengers!

1. Jawbone Tomahawk

One passenger thought that their decorative (but still lethal) jawbone tomahawk could travel in the cabin with them, but TSA guidelines say that all tomahawk weapons must be packed with your checked baggage. This weapon was confiscated at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).

This tomahawk wins points for beauty, but it still can't travel in a carry-on bag.

2. Cane Swords

These cane swords look like something you might see in a movie, but they really did belong to passengers in Phoenix (PHX) and Baltimore (BWI) who wanted to bring them on board a plane in their carry-on luggage. Remember that concealing knives of any kind can result in fines or even arrest.

Apparently cane swords are popular with travelers on both coasts.

3. Hatchet

This compact tool looks like it could be very useful for many tasks, but if you want to take your hatchet on a trip with you, remember that it has to travel in the cargo hold. This item was confiscated by TSA agents at Dallas Love Field (DAL).

Although this hatchet is small in size it still is highly dangerous and has to travel with the rest of the cargo.

4. Skull-Themed Throwing Knives

Halloween is still a few months away, but one traveler at Chicago's O'Hare airport (ORD) wanted to keep this spooky knife set close while traveling. Of course, like the prohibited items above, these too must be stowed away in checked baggage or else you can be subject to fines or arrest.

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These spooky knives were confiscated by TSA agents at Chicago O'Hare (ORD).

5. Concealed Axe

A traveler in Tampa (TPA) apparently thought that they were being sneaky by attempting to hide an axe beneath the fabric and then lodged it in between the handles. The TSA wasn't fooled, however, and the axe was confiscated. While this fabric might stop agents from spotting contraband with the naked eye, it's no match for the x-ray scanners.

This traveler in Tampa thought this was a good hiding spot, but it was no match for the x-ray machines at TPA.

What's the strangest item you've seen at a TSA checkpoint?

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.