OTTAWA, Feb. 25, 2013 /CNW/ - Screening officers at Canada's major
airports screened more than 51 million passengers last year, according
to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). While it's
not uncommon to see bottles of liquid larger than the permitted 100 ml
or pocket knives in passengers' carry-on bags, some other discoveries
were real head-scratchers.
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Not-so-lucky Charm
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Lots of people travel with lucky charms. For some it's a rabbit foot,
for others a horseshoe and in the case of one Whitehorse passenger, a
"lucky" knife. An alarm at the metal detector led screening officers
to search the passenger's shoe, revealing a knife concealed in the
sole. The passenger told screening officers the knife was there for
good luck, which turned into bad luck when the knife was intercepted.
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How many butterfly knives do you need?
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A passenger at the Vancouver International Airport clearly thought 22
was the answer, which screening officers discovered when they found
almost two dozen of them in his bag, along with eight brass knuckles
and four fireworks. The items were confiscated by police and the
passenger was arrested.
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Explosive Situation
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At Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, a World War II aficionado's travel
plans were halted after the x-ray identified what looked like a
grenade. A subsequent search and police intervention found that the
item was a replica of a World War II grenade. Not surprisingly,
explosives and replicas thereof are not allowed onboard.
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Not Packing Light
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Screening officers in Vancouver made a surprising discovery when a
passenger went through the metal detector: a six-inch hunting knife.
But that's not all. In the course of the search, they also found 30
grams of marijuana and a retractable steel baton. Police were called
and the passenger was arrested.
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Stunning Catch
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Because you never know when you'll next need your stun gun, a
Toronto-Pearson passenger decided to bring his personal protection
device in his carry-on bag. When the shape of a gun was observed at the
x-ray, screening officers inspected the bag and found a prohibited stun
gun. Stun guns are not only banned from aircraft but also illegal to
possess under Canada's Criminal Code.
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An Alarming Money Belt
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A passenger set off the alarm when he walked through the metal detector
at Toronto-Pearson International Airport. Screening officers
subsequently found multiple rolls of coins in the waistband of his
pants. Coins are allowed in carry-on bags so hopefully the passenger
realized it's a more comfortable way to stash his cash.
As the busy spring break travel season approaches, CATSA reminds
passengers to visit catsa.gc.ca before going to the airport. Knowing what can be taken on a plane makes
security screening faster and easier for everyone. Passengers may also
find CATSA at m.catsa.gc.ca and on Twitter at @catsa_gc.
CATSA, established in 2002, is a Crown corporation responsible for:
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Pre-board screening - the screening of passengers, their carry-on
baggage and personal belongings;
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Hold-baggage screening - the screening of checked baggage;
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Non-passenger screening - the screening of non-passengers on a random
basis; and
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Restricted Area Identity Card - the administration of access control to
airport restricted areas through biometric identifiers.
SOURCE: Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA)
For further information:
Mathieu Larocque
Spokesperson
613-998-4527
mathieu.larocque@catsa.gc.ca
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