Wednesday
7 Nov 2007
Screeners Find Gun Parts Hidden in Laptops at JFK
By Annie Jacobsen in category Airport Security & Screening
This just in from a law enforcement source on the east coast. On October 29, 2007, TSA screeners at John F. Kennedy Airport found eight slide mechanisms for semi-automatic weapons "artfully concealed" inside the battery compartments of one passenger's four laptop computers.
In the midst of the TSA cheating scandal, did anyone bother to give these screeners a pat on the back?
Washington, DC Daily Summary (TSA/SD-10-3921-07)
On October 29, 2007, eight slide mechanisms for semi-automatic hand guns were artfully concealed inside the battery compartments of four laptop computers checking during screening at New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK). Screeners also found shell casings, butt stock, and night vision binoculars in the checked bags of the laptops’ owner. Law enforcement officials interviewed the passenger, who stated he buys gun parts on E-Bay and brings them to Russia. He admitted to concealing the guns slides and stated that he “has an issue with Russian customs.” The passenger also claimed to have a large amount of jewels and $12,000 in cash.
TSA-OI conducted government and commercial database checks, and TECS revealed a record showing that the passenger brought in a night vision scope from Russia for repairs on 19 December 2006.
I can be reached at Annie@TheAviationNation.com.