An inside look at TSA's grounded goods

HEBRON, Ky. - Earlier this week, a replica grenade found by TSA agents created quite a panic at the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport, even leading to a brief evacuation. But believe it or not, bizarre items like that are regularly confiscated there from passengers' luggage. And then there's also the countless items accidently left behind by travelers at those checkpoints.

So what happens to it all? 9 News discovered a huge amount of TSA's grounded goods.

Thousands of flyers depart CVG each year, but many are leaving behind more than just memories. At the local airport's security checkpoints, is an ever-growing collection of grounded goods. They are surrendered by passengers after being found by TSA agents.

"We have had cologne confiscated, and I wondered if they took it home and used it," said Anthony Sanders, a CVG traveler from Columbus, Indiana.

"Do they (items) go to a big bucket in the sky? I don't know," said Beverely Olthaus, a CVG traveler from Westwood.

"This (a large knife) is something you would think somebody would not bring to the airport," said Paul Wisniewski, TSA's Federal Security Director at CVG. But it was, as were hundreds of other knives. As for the large knife? It would have been fine in checked baggage. This (knife) isn't illegal, however, it is prohibited," said Wisniewski.

Some of the other items surrendered require a second look. What appears to be a tube of lipstick is actually a retractable knife. Someone even tried to bring a throwing star on board. Lighters that look all too much like guns are also confiscated. And speaking of guns, how about toy ones?

"If it replicates a firearm like this one does, it is prohibited," said Wisniewski.

You may be surprised to discover that at CVG each year, TSA agents are only confiscating just a handful of guns. But one of those stories is worth sharing. Believe it or not, it involves a pistol packing grandmother.

"We had an elderly woman, in her 80's as I recall, who had a firearm in her bag, and unfortunately she didn't know it was there," said Wisniewski.
As far as liquids, like Anthony Sanders' cologne, they are often combined in a large vat and later hauled away by a Hazmat team.

But what about the items that are innocently left behind by passengers? 9 News tracked the items down at an off-airport TSA office in Erlanger. Inside a room sit buckets of lost items from just the past month. They range from the expected like sunglasses, driver's licenses, cell phones, belts and cigarettes, to the more bizarre like underwear and razors. More than 40 percent of those items of significant value will eventually be claimed in the coming days.

Back at CVG, an iPad was left behind on Thursday while our camera crew was at the airport. Minutes later, someone did claim it. "We average two or three a day," said Wisniewski.

As for what some travelers are thinking trying to carry on some of the items? That too might be lost. "I used to think about that a lot, but now I have given up," said Wisniewski.