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December 31, 2004

An airport security bug

My friend Cullen told me the following story about Canadian airport security:

Cullen and his family are flying to the US from Calgary. At the baggage check--before they've gone through the carry-on X-ray machine--they're selected for "random" baggage screening. The security types give their luggage a hand search and then hand it back to them. Cullen takes the bags about 15 feet away (still in plain view of security) and transfers a whole bunch of stuff from his carry-on (which, remember, has never been searched) into his checked luggage and puts the checked luggage on the belt.

Outstanding!

Posted by ekr at December 31, 2004 10:59 AM | Filed under:

Comments

So, the terrorists have to rely on the effectiveness of the prescreening process to smuggle explosives into their luggage - if they don't get selected for extra searching, they'll have to explain why there's a bomb in their carry-on.

I sure hope whatever version CAPPS is at now remains ineffective enough not to aid the terrorists a lot :)

Posted by: Thomas Themel at December 31, 2004 2:57 PM

If you don't get selected for pre-screening you just throw away the contraband.

Posted by: EKR at December 31, 2004 5:39 PM