TSA officers screening carry-on luggage at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport found suspected drugs concealed inside a modified Apple Mac mini computer, the agency said in an Oct. 9 release.
According to TSA, an X-ray image showed an unusual mass and wiring inside the computer. Officers examined it further and found signs of tampering and material hidden beneath a concealed section. A TSA explosives specialist then discovered plastic-wrapped contents, including a crystallized substance and an orange pill-like item.
The agency said preliminary field tests indicated the materials included suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine and ketamine. Phoenix police were called to the checkpoint and arrested the passenger. TSA’s account did not identify the individual or provide details about possible charges.
TSA officers quoted in the release described the hiding place as unusual. The agency said its checkpoint role is to screen for weapons, explosives and other aviation threats; when officers encounter suspected illegal drugs, they notify law enforcement.
The account was published by TSA on Oct. 9 and reported by Fox News on Oct. 12. The substances were described as suspected and identified through preliminary testing, rather than as confirmed by a final laboratory analysis in the supplied material.
