A passenger hid bullets in a baby diaper at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. TSA officers caught him.
NEW YORK — TSA officers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport made a startling discovery on Wednesday when they found 17 bullets hidden inside a disposable baby diaper. The incident occurred when the diaper triggered an alarm in an X-ray machine at a security checkpoint, prompting officers to inspect the bag further.
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the passenger initially claimed to have no knowledge of how the bullet-filled diaper ended up in his bag. However, he later suggested that his girlfriend may have been responsible for placing it there.
The passenger, identified as a man from Arkansas, was ticketed for a flight to Chicago’s Midway Airport. The TSA, however, did not disclose his name. The Port Authority police issued him a citation for unlawful possession of the 9mm ammunition.
Similar incidents involving passengers attempting to smuggle bullets have been reported at LaGuardia Airport and other airports across the United States. Just last month, TSA officers discovered a .45-caliber pistol and a magazine loaded with six bullets concealed within a pair of Nike sneakers in a checked bag at LaGuardia. Firearms are allowed to be transported in checked luggage but must be stored in a locked, hard-sided container.
In another incident from January 2021, TSA officers intercepted 13 bullets concealed within a Mentos chewing gum container in a carry-on bag. The bullets were mixed in with pieces of gum. The passenger, charged with unlawful possession of ammunition, claimed the bag belonged to his son.
Furthermore, in April of the same year, officers discovered a loaded .22-caliber pistol and two boxes of ammunition, totaling over 100 bullets, in a carry-on bag. The passenger stated that he had been at a shooting range and had forgotten to remove the gun and bullets before heading to the airport. He was subsequently arrested.
The repeated instances of passengers attempting to smuggle bullets through airport security highlight the importance of stringent security measures in place to prevent potential threats. Authorities are continually reviewing and refining procedures to ensure the safety of all passengers.
Both the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, responsible for operating the airport, and the Queens District Attorney’s Office have been contacted for further information on the recent incident.
As these incidents demonstrate, airport security remains a crucial element of modern travel, and the TSA continues to be vigilant in its efforts to detect and prevent prohibited items from being brought on board.
