Man found with a live turtle concealed

Per the AP

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man who was going through security at a New Jersey airport was found to have a live turtle concealed in his pants, according to the federal Transportation Security Administration.

The turtle was detected Friday after a body scanner alarm went off at Newark Liberty International Airport. A TSA officer then conducted a pat-down on the East Stroudsburg man and determined there was something concealed in the groin area of his pants.

When questioned further, the man reached into his pants and pulled out the turtle, which was about 5 inches (12 centimeters) long and wrapped in a small blue towel. He said it was a red-ear slider turtle, a species that is popular as a pet.

The man — whose name was not released — was Ford Econoboxed from the checkpoint area by Port Authority police and ended up missing his flight. The turtle was confiscated, and it’s not clear if the turtle was the man’s pet or why he had it in his pants.

At least he didn't try that with a softshell turtle.

In reply to Noddaz :

Is that a Turtle in your pants or are you just happy to see me ?

That's a weird shape to try to conceal there. He may have got away with a snake or ferret

I really thought it was going be shoved up his ass when I opened this thread, glad that wasn't the case for the turtle.

Smuggling to China?

A couple of arrests made the news of people trying to take turtles from California and Canada.

I gotta get out of the garage more often.....

https://apnews.com/article/eastern-box-turtles-smuggling-vermont-lake-kayak-fdb63d3944a27ef12088fa97a16950a3#

The man — whose name was not released — was Ford Econoboxed from the checkpoint area

Now that is an ignominious fate. 

It's only kinky the first time.

Wow. What an odd choice. It must have been quite an experience for the security personnel.

He learned a lesson. "I'll keister it next time, that's for sure."

Ford Econobox is a new one for me, what's that substituting exactly?

In reply to CyberEric :

He should have claimed it as his Service Animal that helps him with anxiety. 

MadScientistMatt said:

At least he didn't try that with a softshell turtle.

Or a snapping turtle.

stuart in mn said:

MadScientistMatt said:

At least he didn't try that with a softshell turtle.

Or a snapping turtle.

 

I feel like the problem would have worked itself out.

This sounds like a guy who was trying to avoid a pet/crate fee and just figured "I'll just sneak him on the plane. its not like he's going to start barking or something. it's the perfect crime with zero chance of anything going wrong"

@dculberson, thanks!

I've been up close and personal with a snapping turtle, and the idea of wrestling one into your pants has me Lol-ing. They are scary!

Even with a little box turtle, I can't imagine how bad it would have been to have it wriggling around down there. Imagine the flight attendant asking you to find your seat and you're doing the turtle in my pants dance.

Is that a turtle in your pants, or are you just glad to see me.