On 8 March 2025, a traveller at Newark Liberty International Airport was escorted by police after admitting to hiding a live turtle inside his clothing.
The man, a resident of Pennsylvania whose identity has not been disclosed, triggered an alarm while passing through the airport’s body scanner. Following the alert, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer conducted a pat-down, which revealed an unusual object concealed in the passenger’s trousers.
“A TSA officer administered a pat-down of the area of the man’s body where the alarm was triggered and in doing so, determined that there was something concealed in the area of the man’s groin”, TSA officials said in a statement. “When asked if there was something hidden in his pants, the man, a resident of East Stroudsburg, Pa., reached down the front of his pants and pulled out a live turtle that was wrapped in a small blue towel.”
The reptile was identified as a 12-centimetre-long red-eared slider turtle, one of the most popular pet turtle breeds in the United States.
Police intervention and investigation
Following the discovery, the turtle was confiscated, and the man was escorted from the checkpoint area by Port Authority police. As a result of the incident, the traveller missed his flight.
Authorities have not confirmed the reason behind the attempted smuggling or whether the turtle was the man’s personal pet. The police are now conducting an investigation, which may lead to charges or penalties.
“I commend our officer who conducted the pat-down in a very professional manner in an effort to resolve the alarm. We have seen travellers try to conceal knives and other weapons on their person, in their shoes and in their luggage, however I believe this is the first time we have come across someone who was concealing a live animal down the front of his pants,” said Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey. “As best as we could tell, the turtle was not harmed by the man’s actions.”
Not the first attempt at animal smuggling
This is not the first instance of travellers attempting to smuggle live animals onto a plane.
In 2022, two women were arrested in Bangkok after attempting to transport a total of 109 animals — including two armadillos, two porcupines, 50 chameleons, 35 turtles, and 20 snakes — inside their luggage. More recently, in 2024, six Indian citizens were stopped after trying to conceal 88 exotic animals in their baggage.
Authorities continue to remain vigilant against wildlife smuggling, which poses risks to both animal welfare and passenger safety.
