Florida Woman Caught Smuggling Turtles in Bra at TSA Checkpoint

A pair of turtles found in a passenger’s underwear “shell-shocked” Florida Transportation Security Administration authorities.

The TSA claimed in a July 24 LinkedIn post that the woman, who was departing from Miami International Airport in April, was apprehended attempting to smuggle two turtles through the security checkpoint by tucking them under her bra.

According to an agency statement, TSA’s sophisticated imaging equipment warned agents of a potential object concealed in the passenger’s chest region.

Two live turtles from a “alarming area” were found during the private screening in which the woman was removed. U.S. Customs and Border Protection was one of several organizations called in to help.

“OK friends, please – and we cannot emphasize this enough – stop hiding animals in weird places on your body and then trying to sneak them through airport security,” the message reads. “No, really.”

The woman’s bra contained two turtles; one of them died during the incident, while the other was seized and given to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife.

This incident, the second in recent months, prompted TSA to warn travelers that they “want you to be able to travel with your pets, and you turtle-ly can, but please travel with them safely.”

“You can start by reaching out to your airline for their rules concerning pets on board flights,” according to the organization. “As far as TSA screening goes, small pets are allowed through our checkpoint but must be removed from any carriers and carried through the checkpoint (notice we said ‘carried’ and not ‘hidden underneath your clothing ‘).”

TSA finds and seizes another illegal turtle

TSA officers dealt with another instance of turtles smuggling under clothing earlier this year, this time in New Jersey.

On March 7, the man from Pennsylvania, who wished to remain anonymous, tried to smuggle a live red-ear slider turtle into the crotch of his pants at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Officers found that the man was concealing something in his groin area during a “pat-down” after he tripped an alert. The man produced a turtle wrapped in a blue towel from his trousers when asked if he had anything concealed there.

After questioning the man, Port Authority Police took the turtle away. Law officers removed the man out of the security checkpoint after he missed his flight.