Five dangerous things smuggled through airports

TSA screeners confiscate on average five firearms per day going through the x-ray - just behind your laptop and shoes. Photo / Thinkstock

Megan Singleton uncovers some of the most outlandish things security screeners have found.

Each week the TSA (Transport Security Administration) blog updates plane spotters with stats of their weekly confiscations. Just last week they removed 57 hand guns from carry on luggage. Some were loaded! Here are some of the most outlandish things security screeners have found.

Guns

Yes, TSA screeners are often curt and surly, but they need to be vigilant. They confiscate on average five firearms per day going through the x-ray - just behind your laptop and shoes. The top airports for gun finds in 2013: Atlanta, Dallas Fort Worth, Washington DC, Phoenix and Denver. However not all these passengers had ill intent. Some just forgot their loaded guns were in their handbags.

Incendiary devices

A live smoke grenade was found under the lining of a carry on bag at Washington Dulles, and a live flash bang grenade in a carry on bag in Portland. A live "sting ball" riot control grenade hidden in an ammo can (good one) was found at John Wayne Airport and an "hilarious" novelty grenade lighter was confiscated at Albany Airport.

Inert devices

Each week inert devices like old hand grenades and toy weapons are found. Of course, they don't know these are inert until a full lock down and examination by the appropriate teams have taken place, like the WWII era bazooka in Chicago. A question to the guys who thought taking a fake home-made bomb to a retirement party in Florida was funny, how was your time in the slammer?

#TSA Week in Review: 57 Firearms, 3 Batarangs, and More http://t.co/2gjiyiJav9 pic.twitter.com/nk60n9VKf7

— TSA (@TSA) April 25, 2015

Knives

I once had a pate knife, bought at the airport after my bags had been checked, confiscated transiting through Australia. I was mad. It was blunt and had a cute handle. But the guys at TSA found a sword hidden in a cane in Akron Canton, a double edged comb knife in Detroit, a belt buckle knife in Kansas and a lipstick knife was whisked away in San Antonio.

Suicide Vest

The craziest thing I've read on the TSA blog is the suicide vest that alarmed officers when it went through x-ray. Upon opening the bag they also found electric matches, a bag of potassium chlorate, a bag of titanium powder and a bag of powder that appeared to be a mixture of both. Turned out the owner was an explosives instructor who obviously has a pea for a brain.

If you haven't been to the US since 2010, you'll need to apply for an ESTA waiver. Here's how to go about it.