Durban - From sex toys to curry powder, these are only some of the quirky items that air passengers try to sneak past security scanners at airports.
After an Egyptian couple was caught by United Arab Emirates security personnel attempting to get their baby son past security by hiding him in their hand luggage, the Sunday Tribune visited King Shaka International Airport to get a first-hand look at the luggage scanning process.
Colin Naidoo, the communications and brand manager at the airport, confirmed that they do pick up some strange items on the X-ray machines at security check points.
“Some years ago we encountered a gentleman with a large item in a long sock and when it was inspected it was found to be a vibrator. After many arguments with security, he was allowed by the airline to fly with the item.”
However, when he boarded the aircraft, fellow passengers noticed the strangely-shaped item in his pocket and, suspecting it was an explosive device, reported him.
“When he landed in Joburg en route to Cairo he received a welcome party from the SAPS, who arrested him. A few years later the same gentleman was caught with another sex toy,” said an amused Naidoo.
Some passengers try to get large amounts of spices, firearm parts or even bullets past the scanners while others carry large sums of money. But those passengers have to explain why they are carrying the cash and anything resembling a firearm, or parts of a firearm, are confiscated. These incidents mainly occur in domestic flights when passengers fail to declare these possessions at the check points.
Rosemary Wagner, a senior security officer at King Shaka, said they often encounter items of women’s clothing of a sensitive or sexual nature. “We’ve found handcuffs with fur as well as dildos. We also have to physically test the device to ensure it’s not dangerous.”
Naidoo said that one time a woman’s bag was emitting a ticking and buzzing sound. Security cordoned off the area but they soon discovered that it was a sex toy.
“Obviously we will try to move the passenger to a more private area to conduct the search,” said Naidoo. - Sunday Tribune