Does TSA throw away confiscated items?

Lost and found items retained by TSA for a minimum of thirty (30) days, and if not claimed, are either destroyed, turned over to a state agency for surplus property, or sold by TSA as excess property. The state may dispose of the items through sales, destruction, donations or charities.



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The TSA refers to them as “Voluntarily Abandoned Property,” and contrary to popular belief, TSA employees do not keep any of it for themselves. The agency has a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior, and employees can be instantly terminated if they're caught pocketing confiscated items for themselves.

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TSA makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left behind at the airport checkpoint. Lost and found items retained by TSA for a minimum of thirty (30) days, and if not claimed, are either destroyed, turned over to a state agency for surplus property, or sold by TSA as excess property.

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They are stored by the TSA and some state governments sell them off in online auctions to generate revenue. If you check out these auctions, you might find something similar to the item that was confiscated from you, or maybe, if the stars align, you could spot your own item.

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Depending on the confiscated items in question, some are donated to local non-profits and schools. Many confiscated items like toiletries and liquids are disposed of through paid contractors that work directly with airports.

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Check out 2022's most confiscated items below.
  • Fentanyl candy wrappers found at LAX airport (Los Angeles International Airport)
  • Gun inside of a raw chicken at FLL airport (Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport)
  • Handgun found inside jars of peanut butter at JFK airport (John F.


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TSA makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left behind at the airport checkpoint. Lost and found items retained by TSA for a minimum of thirty (30) days, and if not claimed, are either destroyed, turned over to a state agency for surplus property, or sold by TSA as excess property.

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There are vast amounts of weapons seized in airports each year. These confiscated weapons, such as loaded firearms, unlicensed guns, and dangerous weapons, are usually destroyed, kept as prosecution's evidence, auctioned on eBay, or sold at a state surplus warehouse store.

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There are three primary operations to consider:
  1. If you lose an item by the gate, on the plane, at the check-in counter or in an airline lounge, contact the airline.
  2. If you lose an item while going through security, talk to TSA.
  3. If you lose an item elsewhere in the airport, contact the airport.


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Unclaimed Luggage Goes To Auction The auction can be physical or online, typically including various unclaimed items, clothing, electronics, and jewelry. The proceeds from the auction are then used to cover the costs of storing the unclaimed luggage and any additional expenses incurred by the airport.

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Some items regularly confiscated by TSA include keychain knives, pocket knives, and shampoo or sunscreen in bottles that exceed 3.4 ounces. When these items are found by a TSA agent, they're quickly removed.

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Most TSA officers are not commissioned law enforcement officers, and their role is to conduct screening of passengers, baggage and cargo. TSA screeners can search you and your baggage at screening checkpoints, but they cannot arrest you. Other law enforcement officers, such as airport police, are present at airports.

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Regardless, all airlines require a kind of report to be filed by the person whose items are missing. Unclaimed baggage or items left in lost and found usually end up either in charity or in a place for sale. In the United States, one such place is the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama.

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The results of the tests showed that the TSA screeners failed to detect weapons, drugs, and explosives almost 80 percent of the time. While the exact failure rate is classified, multiple sources indicate it is greater than 70 percent.

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Your intentions are pure when leaving for the airport, only to find the pocket knife you recently bought in your carry-on bag instead of your checked luggage. Once the TSA agent discovers that knife, frying pan, brass knuckle, or whatever prohibited item, expect them to confiscate it.

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Airports, like the small cities they are, must deal with occasional criminal offenses, such as disorderly conduct, theft and public intoxication. And sometimes, the police take the offenders to the airport jail. That's right.

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And the suitcase checked for a journey from New York JFK to Orlando, Florida, on November 16 certainly contained some oddities. As it rolled through the X-ray machine, TSA officials could see what appeared to be bottles, wine glasses, a pair of flip flops – and a life-size outline of a cat.

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There are vast amounts of weapons seized in airports each year. These confiscated weapons, such as loaded firearms, unlicensed guns, and dangerous weapons, are usually destroyed, kept as prosecution's evidence, auctioned on eBay, or sold at a state surplus warehouse store.

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Ask to speak with a supervisor: If the agent is being unprofessional, ask to speak with a supervisor. They will have more authority to resolve the issue. File a complaint: If the issue cannot be resolved at the airport, you can file a complaint w.

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Do TSA Agents Get Flight or Travel Benefits? The answer is no. In contrast to flight attendants and other airline workers, TSA agents do not receive benefits like free flights and free food. Moreover, accepting gifts could get you fired.

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