Can you buy confiscated airport items?

Some confiscated items are put up directly for sale though, and you can find it on the websites for direct purchase. The state surplus auctions are held regularly, and if you're planning to show up for it, it's definitely best to check if you have to register beforehand.



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Since TSA cannot profit from abandoned property, other government agencies can. The TSA hands over potentially valuable items to “surplus centers,” where customers can purchase goods. Some may end up in online auction sites like GovDeals. All profits end up in the pockets of the state that helped coordinate the sales.

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What do a chainsaw, bear spray, and a meth burrito all have in common? They were all seized at United States airports last year, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which recently released its top confiscated items for 2021.

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The TSA does follow a policy of throwing out all prohibited liquids because they have no way of proving they haven't been compromised. When you leave a confiscated item behind with the TSA, it automatically becomes government property.

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Typically, airlines will pass the items over to the lost and found department at the arrival airport. The item will be kept for a 90-day holding period, after which it will be donated to charity or a place for sale – in some cases, the item will be destroyed if unclaimed after the holding period.

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* Bleach is considered to be either a corrosive or oxidizing substance, and is therefore not permitted to be checked in or carried on board.

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TSA confiscated record number of guns from airline passengers in 2022
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: 448.
  • Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: 385.
  • George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston: 298.
  • Nashville International Airport: 213.
  • Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix: 196.


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DEA Cash SeizureAnother circumstance where you could have your money seized at an airport is due to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). As the DEA has a mandate to search luggage and question travelers at airports, there's always a chance that you could find yourself in this position.

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But what about the other 3%? While this may seem like a small percentage, millions of bags flow through airports yearly, so 3% of millions of bags creates mountains of lost luggage. Instead of throwing everything in the dump, airlines actually sell or donate these bags, and yes, you can buy the lost treasures inside.

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Is duty-free shopping cheaper? Duty-free items which are tax free are generally cheaper compared to regular retail store prices. Before shelling out for a duty-free purchase, you should undertake a quick comparison to see if you could buy the same item at a similar price back home.

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What's the most popular item for sale at the airport?
  1. Dasani bottled water (20 oz)
  2. Glaceau Smartwater (20 oz)
  3. Large Dasani (one liter)
  4. Glaceau Smartwater (one liter)
  5. Glaceau Smartwater (23.8 oz)
  6. Diet Coke (20 oz)
  7. Coca-Cola (20 oz)
  8. M&M Peanut king-size.


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According to the TSA (Transport Security Administration), toothpaste is allowed on airplanes, but in limited quantities. That's because toothpaste is considered a gel, and most airline regulators have set rules for all liquids and gels packed inside hand baggage.

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TSA considers toothpaste a gel. It confirms to the same rule as liquids. You can have 3.4 ounces in your carry on.

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One of the most common items the TSA confiscates is firearms. Most people forget them in their carry-on bags, and the agent has no choice but to take them. It's worth mentioning that even when weapons are in checked luggage, TSA may confiscate them.

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This year, the Department of Homeland Security carried out covert tests on TSA security, and the results weren't pretty. The results of the tests showed that the TSA screeners failed to detect weapons, drugs, and explosives almost 80 percent of the time.

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