TSA’s Top 10 Bizarre Airport Finds of 2025
Every year, TSA releases a roundup of the strangest items discovered during routine airport screening, and the list usually says as much about passenger behavior as it does about security technology. The 2025 discoveries range from wildlife smuggling to weapons disguised as everyday objects. With millions of travelers moving through U.S. airports daily, even rare attempts eventually surface.
Turtles Hidden In Clothing
Credit: TSA
During peak travel seasons, wildlife traffickers sometimes rely on body concealment because carry-on bags are subject to stricter screening. In 2025, two travelers passing through Newark Liberty and Miami were stopped after scanners detected irregular shapes under their clothing. Officers discovered live turtles taped to their bodies, and wildlife officials later transferred the animals to protected care facilities.
Replica Explosive Device In Checked Bag
Credit: TSA
It only takes one suspicious X-ray image to shut down an entire screening lane, even if the item turns out harmless. That happened at Boise Airport when a checked bag revealed pipes, wiring, and blocks labeled C4. The contents were training materials, but bomb technicians still had to clear the bag before flights and baggage operations resumed.
Ammunition Hidden In Chocolate Drink Powder
Credit: Instagram
Food containers often pass through security without much scrutiny, which is why smugglers sometimes try to use them for concealment. At Miami International, screening flagged a Nesquik powder container after density scans showed hidden metal objects. Officers found ammunition inside. Federal rules require ammunition to be declared and packed in accordance with strict airline transport guidelines.
Razor Blades Sewn Into Clothing
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
A bag check turned into a full clothing inspection after security staff noticed stiff, uneven stitching while assisting a traveler repacking items at Denver International. Inside the seam lining, officers found razor blades sewn flat against the fabric. Hidden blades are banned because even minor exposure during turbulence or bag handling can quickly injure someone.
Illegal Drugs Hidden Inside Shoes
Credit: pexels
Long international travel days often mean passengers are moving through security with layered clothing, packed carry-ons, and shoes worn for hours of transit. During an inspection at Kona International, officers noticed that one pair felt unusually dense when placed in a tray. Cutting open the sole revealed concealed narcotics hidden inside the structure.
Knife Concealed In Knee Brace
Credit: TSA
The brace looked normal until it passed through the scanner a second time after a routine rescan request. Security staff later found a knife embedded in the rigid support frame of the brace. Items worn on the body may still require a full inspection if their internal components appear inconsistent with medical device construction standards.
Pills Hidden Inside Shampoo Bottle
Credit: Instagram
The liquid inside the bottle moved more slowly than normal when officers tilted it during a manual check, which immediately raised suspicion. Inside the shampoo, the pills were sealed in plastic layers to keep them dry. Hidden medication creates problems because officers must confirm the prescription’s legality and the substance’s classification before clearing travel.
Knife Hidden Inside Child Car Seat
Credit: Canva
Family travel gear usually moves through airports without much attention, especially when parents are juggling strollers, bags, and kids. During a security check, officers discovered a knife hidden inside the padding of a child’s car seat. Items like this typically get removed immediately, and the rest of the screening line continues moving while reports are filed.
Firearm Hidden Inside Golf Bag
Credit: TSA
Golf bags are some of the most common oversized items checked on flights between states like Texas, Florida, Arizona, and California, especially during tournament seasons and winter travel months. In Houston, officers found an undeclared firearm packed among clubs during an inspection. Cases like this typically result in the traveler being referred to a separate law-enforcement review area.
Weapons Wrapped In Aluminum Foil
Credit: TSA
At two different airports, routine bag checks uncovered knives and ammunition tightly wrapped in foil and packed between clothing layers. Travelers sometimes assume foil hides metal, but it usually makes items stand out more during review. In both cases, the weapons were removed immediately, and the passengers were referred for additional questioning before continuing through the airport system.