A rather unusual discovery took place at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday when security officers detected 17 bullets concealed inside a disposable baby diaper, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
In a surprising twist, security officers uncovered this unconventional hiding spot during routine screening at an airport security checkpoint. The diaper, found in a passenger’s carry-on bag, triggered an alarm in an X-ray machine. The TSA reported that the diaper, apart from the hidden bullets, was otherwise clean.
The passenger initially claimed ignorance about the presence of the bullet-filled diaper in his bag. However, he later shifted his stance, suggesting that his girlfriend might have placed it there, according to the TSA. While the TSA did not disclose the passenger's name, it identified him as a man from Arkansas ticketed for a flight to Chicago’s Midway Airport. The Port Authority police cited him for unlawful possession of the 9mm ammunition.
Instances of passengers attempting to transport bullets and firearms have been observed at various airports nationwide, and LaGuardia is no exception. 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. Regulations permit firearms to be transported as checked luggage, but they must be placed in a locked, hard-sided container, not hidden in items like shoes.
In a similar incident in January 2021, security officers intercepted 13 bullets concealed in a Mentos chewing gum container inside a carry-on bag at LaGuardia. The bullets were cleverly mixed in with pieces of gum. The passenger faced charges of unlawful possession of ammunition and claimed the bag belonged to his son.
Another case in April involved officers discovering a loaded .22-caliber pistol and two boxes of ammunition, totaling over 100 bullets, in a carry-on bag. The passenger asserted that he had been at a shooting range and forgot to remove the gun and bullets before heading to the airport, leading to his arrest by the TSA.
