NEWARK, N.J. - A man who was trying to smuggle a handgun to Jamaica was arrested today, July 3, after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers uncovered the gun artfully concealed beneath the lining of a piece of checked luggage at Newark Liberty International Airport.
During routine screening of checked baggage, TSA’s baggage scanning system alarmed which required that the suitcase be opened and inspected. Once all of the contents were removed from the luggage, TSA officers unzipped the bag’s lining and discovered the unloaded.22 caliber gun strapped to the frame of the suitcase.
TSA officers alerted Port Authority Police, who reported to TSA’s checked baggage inspection room and confiscated the gun. TSA officials provided the traveler’s name and flight information to the police, who arrested the man in the airport terminal on weapons charges.
Passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the airport. Travelers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packed and declared. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard sided case and locked upon presentation at the airline check-in counter. The airline representative will then make sure that the firearm is transported in the belly of the plane with checked baggage after the traveler completes some paperwork. TSA has instructions on how to travel with a firearm on TSA.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration
