NEWARK, N.J. - A Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, man was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport May 13, after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers detected a loaded semi-automatic handgun in the traveler’s carry-on bag.
A TSA officer detected the 9 mm semi-automatic handgun inside the man’s book-bag as it passed through the security checkpoint X-ray machine. It was loaded with 18 hollow-point bullets, including one in the chamber.
TSA officers immediately contacted the Port Authority Police Department, which responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the gun and arrested the man on state weapons charges.
The man, a resident of Northampton, Pennsylvania, was ticketed to fly to Havana.
As a reminder, weapons-including firearms, firearm parts and ammunition-are not permitted in carry-on bags. Travelers who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA of up to $12,000.
Passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the security checkpoint, and TSA’s advice to passengers is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items.
Travelers should familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration
