A traveler passing through Richmond International Airport in Virginia was caught attempting to sneak a double-edge blade through security by hiding inside his laptop.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a press release earlier this week identifying a failed attempt to sneak a double-edged knife through security at the Richmond International Airport in Virginia.
On November 11, Veteran’s Day, a man hailing from Williamsburg, Virginia was passing through airport security when what was thought to be a blade was seen during the x-ray scan. TSA officers searched the man’s luggage and found no weapon initially.
The @TSA team at Richmond International Airport detected a knife artfully concealed inside the inner workings of a traveler’s laptop. The officer spotted the unusual find via X-ray and after obtaining special tools to expose the guts of the laptop, revealed the knife. pic.twitter.com/3sdTrdnVoe
— Lisa Farbstein, TSA Spokesperson (@TSA_Northeast) November 15, 2022
Further investigation revealed the blade was actually hiding inside the man’s laptop. After initially feigning ignorance as to the knife’s existence, he eventually copped to the fact it was his and the blade was confiscated.
The traveler now faces a civil penalty for his actions and the blade was confiscated.
“This was a superb job on the part of our officers to first identify the threat and then work in partnership with the Capital Region Airport Commission Police to obtain tools that were necessary to disassemble the laptop to reveal the knife. Detecting artfully concealed weapons points to the training and skill of our officers who are focused on their mission to ensure that prohibited items that could cause harm are not carried onto flights. The traveler now faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty.
Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport
According to the TSA’s website, the fine for bladed weapons can reach as high as $2,250.
“Axes and hatchets; bows and/or arrows; ice axes and ice picks; knives with blades that open automatically (such as switchblades); knives with blades that open via gravity (such as butterfly knives); any double-edge knives or daggers; meat cleavers; sabers; swords; fencing foils;machetes; throwing stars”
Fine: $390 – $2250
Cover image credit: TSA
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