Airports are packed with security officers who are looking for suspicious men and women. Since the tragedy of September 11^th, 2001, the airport security has been improved so that criminals won’t embark on a plane with a plan to overthrow the aircraft or commit and act of terrorism. As a result, the security officers conduct thorough bag checks and cause all carryon bags to go through a screening process. Passengers are not allowed to bring any sort of weapon in their carryon bag, from a firearm to a pair of scissors. People also cannot bring containers of liquid or a variety of over items that could be used to harm others.

Those who do not abide by these rules can be subject to a strip search and can then be arrested if they are not compliant with the procedures in the airport. For example, a man was recently arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) when surveillance personnel discovered firearms, body bags, a gas mask, a machete, and other violent weapons in his luggage during a screening. The security conducted a quick background check on the suspect and discovered that he was a 28-year-old who had been in Japan teaching but had family in Boston. Yongda Huang Harris also had a tendency to view child pornography, which concerned the security personnel immediately after they confiscated his computer and discovered the images. Harris disembarked from the plane he had boarded to LAX in a bulletproof vest and flame retardant pants.

While security did not believe that Harris was part of a terrorist organization, they were concerned by the many dangerous items in his suitcases. He was arrested and placed in jail as a suspicious person. Harris says that he was en route to Boston for the funeral of his step-father and is furious that he has been detained from attending the memorial service. Harris has been charged with the transporting of hazardous materials. This offense can carry a federal sentence of up to five years in prison. This case will heavily depend on what items Harris smuggled onto the plane hidden under his clothes and what items were packed in the bag which was in the luggage compartment.

Police have already determined that there was a collapsible baton, a knife, billy clubs, leg irons, a device to repel dogs, a biohazard suit, and a hatchet inside the suitcases. As well, police found a grenade that could have potentially caused a fire in the aircraft. While the grenade violated safe luggage statutes, other items such as knives and a hatchet would have been permissible if they were not coupled with so many other suspicious items. While some people intentionally pack their suitcases with dangerous items, others may completely forget about a dangerous weapon stowed inside their carryon at the airport.

On occasion, a man or woman will approach a bag check with a knife or gun inside their bag. They may have forgotten that it was there, or it may have been planted by a knowing criminal. If you have been caught with a dangerous weapon in your bag, then chances are that you will be detained at the airport, miss your flight, and may even be sent to jail. The Travel Safety Association says that if you attempt to bring a weapon on board of a flight you can be fined up to $10,000. Some states will consider attempting to bring a weapon on board a plane as a misdemeanor, and you may be sent to jail for your crime. If you were arrested in connection with smuggling a weapon onto an airplane contact a criminal defense lawyer today for representation!