TSA’s Top 10 Most Unusual Catches in 2023

Artillery ammunition, replica rockets among agency’s airport seizures

By Eric Heyl

Published February 12, 2024

Read Time: 3 mins

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The Transportation Security Administration confiscated a record number of 6,737 firearms at airport security checkpoints across the country last year. But the TSA seized much more than guns.

Each year, the agency releases a list of its “Top 10 Catches”: the most unusual banned — and occasionally illegal — items that passengers try to bring through security.

The top 10 from 2023:

No. 10: Naruto throwing knives were discovered in a carry-on bag at Boston’s Logan International Airport. Attempting to carry sharp objects onto a flight was pretty dull-witted.

(Courtesy of TSA)

No. 9: Replica rockets were discovered in luggage at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. The TSA aborted their launch well before takeoff.

(Courtesy of TSA)

No. 8: This knife was found inside a loaf of keto bread at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Pro tip: usually bread is sliced from the outside.

(Courtesy of TSA)

No. 7: A bag of methamphetamine was discovered in a container of crab boil seasoning powder at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. As celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay likely would advise, Old Bay works way better than meth when cooking crabs.

(Courtesy of TSA)

No. 6: A bomb squad collected this 35mm projectile at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Why would anyone even attempt to travel with a 35mm projectile? Takes up too much space in the carry-on luggage.

(Courtesy of TSA)

No. 5: A knife was found hidden inside a prosthetic at Anchorage Airport. They must not have had a loaf of keto bread handy.

(Courtesy of TSA)

No. 4: Back to New Orleans. This weapon was found fully loaded along with a modest ammunition amount of 163 rounds. That carry-on must have been heavy.

(Courtesy of TSA)

No. 3: Just your average improvised explosive device (IED) confiscated at Sacramento International Airport  – likely packed with travel-sized deodorant and toothpaste.

(Courtesy of TSA)

No. 2: A bunch of marijuana was found in a diaper at LaGuardia Airport in New York. An appropriate selection for the number two slot.

(Courtesy of TSA)

No. 1: This inert IED was discovered in an energy drink can at Tulsa International Airport.

The beverage’s name, of course, was “Bang.”

(Courtesy of TSA)