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The 5 Craziest Things Passengers Tried to Sneak by the TSA in March

March 31, 2017
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7 min read
Chicago TSA Featured
The 5 Craziest Things Passengers Tried to Sneak by the TSA in March
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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 ones on its Instagram page. Below are the five most ridiculous items that were confiscated this month — at least according to us at Team TPG. As always, we're grateful that the TSA remains diligent in preventing passengers from boarding aircraft with such dangerous weapons.

1. Zap Self Defense Cane

While canes are indeed allowed as carry-ons, canes that can deliver a shock of 1,000,000 volts are not. This 'Zap Self Defense Cane' was found in a passenger's carry-on bag at the Kahului airport (OGG). Next time make sure the electrified cane is safely stowed in your checked luggage.

2. Dragon Dagger

Knives of any kind aren't allowed in carry-on bags, yet TSA seems to frequently find the sharp objects on passengers at security checkpoints. This knife stands out though for looking more at home in a Game of Thrones episode than at a US airport. This knife, featuring a dragon head handle, was found in a carry-on bag at Chicago's O'Hare airport (ORD).

3. Spartan Hand Gun

Perhaps this person who attempted to carry on a Spartan hand gun was a big fan of 300 — but no matter how good-looking the gun is, you can't carry them on. This handgun was found in a carry-on bag in Midland, Texas (MAF).

4. A Whole Lot of Grenades

The TSA had its hands full when this passenger attempted to carry on a bag that included live smoke grenades, inert practice grenades and three live ground burst simulators. These... goodies... were discovered in a soldier's carry-on bag in Palm Springs (PSP) and while they're used for military training, they're definitely not allowed to fly commercial.

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5. Grim Reaper Pocket Knife

It seems that insignia on weapons was a hot trend for passengers this month — a passenger in Honolulu (HNL) attempted to bring along this utterly creepy pocket knife, complete with an engraved handle of Death, personified.

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

Featured image by Getty Images

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
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  • $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.
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  • Annual Fee is $325.
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