We all have that moment of panic in the security line where we wonder if we accidentally left a full water bottle in our bag or forgot to take off a belt. But for some travelers in 2025, “packing mistakes” meant something entirely different—like hiding live reptiles in their underwear or stashing weapons in breakfast powder.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently released their annual “Top 10 Most Unusual Finds” list, and it honestly reads more like a fever dream than a security report. It’s a hilarious, baffling, and slightly concerning reminder of just what people try to sneak onto planes. Here are the ten wildest things agents intercepted last year, proving that common sense isn’t always something people pack in their carry-on.
1. Replica Pipe Bombs (Boise Airport)
Taking the top spot for sheer lack of awareness, a passenger at Boise Airport decided to check a bag containing what looked exactly like a pipe bomb. The device was made of PVC pipe, wires, and wooden blocks wrapped in paper clearly labeled “C4,” which understandably triggered a massive security response. An explosives specialist had to be called in to examine the device, only to find out it was a harmless “training aid” that the traveler had forgotten to mention. It should go without saying, but bringing anything that resembles a high-grade explosive to an airport is the fastest way to miss your flight and meet local law enforcement.
2. Turtles in Undergarments (Miami & Newark)
In a trend that no one saw coming, two separate passengers at Miami and Newark airports tried to turn their clothes into mobile terrariums. One woman was caught with small turtles taped inside her bra, while a man in Newark attempted to smuggle a reptile by wrapping it in a towel and stuffing it down his pants. Security officers noticed the unusual bulges during screening and had to perform what was likely the most awkward pat-down of their careers. The TSA practically begged travelers on social media to stop hiding animals in their private areas, noting that pet carriers are a much safer—and less gross—alternative.
3. Razor Blades Sewn into Clothes (Denver)
Security at Denver International Airport uncovered a plan that was much more calculated than your average accidental prohibited item. Officers discovered razor blades that had been meticulously sewn directly into the fabric seams of a passenger’s clothing. This wasn’t just a toiletry bag mishap; it was a deliberate concealment that looked straight out of a spy movie, though much less effective. The X-ray technology picked up the metal instantly, foiling the traveler’s attempt to bring sharp objects into the cabin and likely leading to some very serious questions from authorities.
4. A Pharmacy in a Shoe (Kona Airport)
A traveler in Hawaii took the concept of “drug running” a little too literally when they tried to smuggle a massive stash of narcotics through Kona International Airport. Officers found a hollowed-out pair of shoes packed tight with everything from fentanyl and meth to ketamine, proving that dirty socks weren’t the only thing smelling funky. It’s a classic smuggling trope that rarely works with modern scanning technology, yet people keep trying it year after year. The TSA noted that while shoes often trigger alarms, finding a mobile pharmacy inside them is definitely one for the record books.
5. Knife in a Knee Brace (Quad Cities Airport)
At Quad Cities International Airport in Illinois, a passenger tried to exploit a medical accessory to hide a weapon. Officers discovered a knife cleverly concealed inside the lining of a knee brace, which the traveler was wearing at the time. While medical devices often require special screening, using them as a sheath for a blade is a surefire way to get pulled aside for a much closer inspection. It’s a reminder that TSA officers are trained to look closely at anything attached to your body, even if it looks like a legitimate health aid.
6. Pills in a Shampoo Bottle (Anchorage)
Travelers often try to hide liquids, but one passenger in Anchorage decided to use a liquid container to hide something else entirely. Security officers opened a bottle of shampoo to find it wasn’t full of soap, but rather stuffed with bags of pills and other medication. The density of the pills inside the liquid triggered the X-ray alarms, because standard shampoo doesn’t usually look like a solid mass on the scanner. It was a messy and ineffective way to transport medicine, and a good reminder that just keeping your pills in their original bottle is always the smarter move.
7. Knife in a Child’s Car Seat (Dallas Fort Worth)
One of the more concerning finds happened at DFW, where officers found a knife hidden inside a child’s car seat. The weapon was tucked into the padding of the seat, a place most people would assume is safe and innocent. Whether it was placed there intentionally to bypass security or just carelessly lost by a parent, it created a major safety hazard that security couldn’t ignore. TSA agents screen everything that goes through the checkpoint, including baby gear, so using a toddler’s seat as a hiding spot is never going to work.
8. Bullets in Nesquik (Miami)
In a bizarre attempt at camouflage, a traveler at Miami International tried to smuggle ammunition inside a container of strawberry Nesquik powder. The heavy density of the bullets inside the loose powder stood out immediately on the X-ray monitor, looking nothing like a normal tub of breakfast drink. It’s hard to imagine the logic behind mixing lead with strawberry flavor, but the officers weren’t fooled by the sweet disguise. This serves as a weird lesson that organic powders and metal ammunition look very different to security scanners, no matter how much you shake the can.
9. Firearm in a Golf Bag (Houston)
Golf bags are a common place for travelers to accidentally leave prohibited items, but this find at George Bush Intercontinental was no accident. Officers found a firearm tucked away among the clubs, likely hoping the metal shafts and irons would clutter the X-ray image enough to hide the gun. Unfortunately for the golfer, the distinct shape of a firearm is unmistakable to trained eyes, even when surrounded by a 9-iron and a putter. It’s a good tip for golfers to completely empty their bags before flying, because a forgotten weapon is a handicap you really don’t want on your trip.
10. Bullets and Knives in Tinfoil (Akron-Canton & Newark)
Rounding out the list is a method that feels like it was borrowed from a cartoon: wrapping contraband in aluminum foil. Passengers at both Akron-Canton and Newark airports tried to hide bullets and knives by wrapping them in foil, assuming it would make them invisible to X-rays. In reality, foil shows up clearly on scanners and actually draws more attention to the item because it looks like a deliberate attempt to shield something. It’s a “hiding in plain sight” strategy that failed miserably, proving that kitchen supplies are not a countermeasure for airport security.
