Authorities caught a woman attempting to sneak a pair of exotic animals through airport security in Miami in an unconventional hiding place. One unfortunately did not survive the ordeal.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shared details about the incident in a now-viral post on Facebook. The post starts by urging travelers not to hide pets in their clothes, “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 animals that prompted the post are a pair of turtles. A Florida woman was reportedly traveling out of Miami Airport when security found the animals in her clothes. They were inside “Yes, you guessed it… her brassiere,” the TSA reveals.
“We want you to be able to travel with your pets, and you turtle-ly can, but please travel with them safely,” the post continues. The TSA explains that passengers should ask their airlines for the rules regarding pets on flights. “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”),” they note.
One Turtle Did Not Survive The Trip Through The Airport
The post doesn’t reveal the passenger’s identity or if they will face any criminal charges. However, it does explain that one of the turtles did not survive. Authorities reportedly handed over the remaining animal to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife. “We’re thankful for their partnership throughout this incident,” the TSA concludes.
Earlier this month, officials at Mumbai Customs revealed that they caught a traveler transporting 16 live snakes in their luggage. Authorities did not reveal the suspect’s identity, although they confirmed that officials had arrested them. “Customs officers at CSMI Airport, Mumbai Customs Zone-III foiled yet another wildlife smuggling attempt, 16 live snakes-Garter, Rhino Rat, Albino Rat, Kenyan Sand Boa, CA King etc. Seized from a passenger returning from Thailand,” The organization said in an X post.
There was a similar incident days later, where officials caught another passenger. They were also traveling from Thailand and had 100 animals in their luggage, including birds and lizards.