Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Miami International Airport were in for a shock when a woman tried to sneak two turtles through security — by hiding them in her bra.
According to TSA officials, the incident happened in April, but details were shared this week in a social media post by the agency. The unnamed passenger was stopped at a checkpoint after advanced imaging technology flagged an “unusual item” near her chest area.
When the woman was taken aside for a private screening, TSA officers found two live turtles wrapped in gauze and plastic wrap, concealed inside her bra. Photos shared by the agency showed the reptiles tightly bound and wedged against her chest.
One of the turtles did not survive the ordeal, while the surviving reptile was confiscated and turned over to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife.
TSA called the attempt both dangerous and unnecessary.
“Please — and we can’t stress this enough — stop hiding animals in strange places on your body to get through airport security,” the agency wrote. “We allow pets, including turtles, to travel through checkpoints, but they must be safely carried, not hidden under clothing.”
The agency reminded travelers that small pets can go through TSA checkpoints but must be removed from carriers, carried by hand, and screened while their carriers go through X-ray machines. Airlines may also have their own pet travel policies.
This isn’t the first time TSA has uncovered smuggled reptiles. Earlier this year, a man was caught at Newark Liberty International Airport trying to hide a red-ear slider turtle in the crotch of his pants. In previous years, officials have also intercepted snakes, Amazon parrot eggs, and live birds being smuggled through airports.
While TSA often finds unusual items, the agency’s message to travelers was clear: “Travel with your pets safely — not secretly.”
