Hashish Found Hidden in Chocolates at Dulles Airport
By Miranda Jackson ••
How do customs officers spot hidden drugs in airline passengers’ luggage? “It just looks like it’s been tampered with a little bit,” one officer told News4’s Cory Smith. Here’s a look at how it’s done.
Customs officers inspecting luggage at Washington Dulles International Airport thought something seemed off about chocolates in a woman's luggage.
They searched the treats and found hashish inside.
During a routine secondary inspection on Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers realized that the four boxes weighing nearly 6 pounds didn't contain only chocolate. A substance inside tested positive for THC/hashish, CBP said Thursday.
Ahdieh Bassam, a 49-year-old Iranian who lives in Oak Hill, Virginia, was charged with possession of a controlled substance. It wasn't immediately clear if she had a lawyer.
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Someone left behind their removable gold tooth caps, also known as "grillz."
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There's a cabinet full of laptops waiting to be claimed. TSA recommends travelers tape a business card to their devices, just in case.
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Belts need to be removed at TSA checkpoints, and that means many are left behind.
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Someone in a wedding party was separated from their headband.
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TSA believes this family photo printed on a canvas was likely a holiday gift that was left behind.
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TSA has a bin full of IDs and passports that never made it back into their owners' pockets or bags after being presented at checkpoints.
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Now, where did I leave those keys?
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TSA wants to hear from whoever left their mink fur piece at Dulles.
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Looks like this children's board game didn't make it under the tree in time for Christmas.
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Many, many chargers and other wired items are left behind.
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Tons of coats were left hanging, too.
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Childrens' toys are often lost at TSA checkpoints during the holiday season, like this Moana doll.
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Two pricey new iPhones in their original boxes were found.
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TSA says it tags lost items with the checkpoint, time and date when they are found. In this case, a bin full of watches that were lost.
Transportation Security Administration
Even makeup and cosmetic bags are among the many items left behind.
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TSA agents found a delicious item all alone: chocolate from around the world.
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TSA wants the rightful owner of these helmets to come forward.
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TSA says it's easy for some people to leave their walkers behind when they are given a courtesy wheelchair.
CBP's Baltimore field operations director said officers are always looking for travelers who try to sneak in illegal substances.
“Customs and Border Protection officers know that people will try a wide variety of creative concealment methods to smuggle illegal drugs into the United States, and it is our job to intercept these smuggling attempts,” Casey Durst said in a statement.
