East Stroudsburg man tries to sneak live turtle through airport security in his pants – Pocono Record

An East Stroudsburg man is accused of trying to sneak a live animal past the Transportation Security Administration in New Jersey.
According to a TSA press release, an East Stroudsburg man who was not identified by name tried to sneak a live turtle past security at Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday, March 7.
The man was given a pat-down after he tripped an alarm, and it was determined that he was concealing something in his groin area. The man pulled the turtle out of his pants when asked if there was something hidden in them. He told officials that the turtle was a red-ear slider turtle and officials estimated the turtle to be 5 inches long.
Port Authority Police escorted the man, who had missed his flight at that point, out of the checkpoint. Prior to that, they confiscated the turtle and indicated they would contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as well as local animal control officials.
Thomas Carter, the TSA’s New Jersey federal security director, commended officers for conducting the pat-down in a “very professional manner.” “We have seen travelers 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,” Carter said in the press release. “As best as we can tell, the turtle was not harmed by the man’s actions.”
Max Augugliaro is the public safety and government watchdog reporter at the Pocono Record. Reach him atMAugugliaro@gannett.com.

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