TSA Reports Increase Of Illegal Items At Ontario Airport Checkpoints

By Greg Mills

ONTARIO (CBS) — TSA officers at Ontario International Airport say that they are seeing an increase in the number of people attempting to take guns and other dangerous devices on planes. Four guns have been found so far this year.

The TSA is surprised by an increase in illegal and dangerous items that people are trying to get through security checkpoints.

At Ontario International Airport last Saturday, a passenger bound for Phoenix was stopped when TSA agents discovered a loaded 9mm pistol in his carry-on bag. He was arrested.

"I don't think I'm getting on this plane now. I'm thinking I'm going to change my mind," joked airline passenger Audrey Williams after learning about the incident.

The discovery marked the fourth time that TSA agents there have found firearms in carry-on baggage this year.

About 10,000 passengers walk through checkpoints each day at Ontario and TSA officials said that they are seeing an increase in illegal and dangerous items, as they check carry-on luggage there and at other Southland airports.

"Over the last few months we've seen throwing stars at John Wayne [Airport], we've seen kubaons at Burbank, we've seen guns here in Ontario -- all of the above at LAX," said Nico Melendez of the TSA.

He added that it is legal to ship unloaded firearms in a case inside checked luggage, but the airline must be notified first.

As we found out, weapons are not the only items found at security checkpoints -- people leave behind all kinds of things -- mostly keys, driver's licenses and even passports.

In just one month at LAX, they were able to fill two plastic containers with those unclaimed items.

Airports try to reunite lost items with their owners, but they are not successful very often.