The Transportation Security Administration found a record number of firearms in carry-on bags at airports in 2014. They found a few unusual items hidden in luggage as well. VPC 
 
 Airport security agents in California stopped a passenger who was accidentally carrying an 8.5-inch knife in an enchilada. (Photo: Transportation Security Administration) 
 
 WASHINGTON — A record 2,212 firearms — most of them loaded — were discovered in travelers' carry-on bags at U.S. airports last year, according to 2014 statistics released today by the Department of Homeland Security. 
 
 Transportation Security Administration officers found an average of six firearms per day in passengers' carry-on bags or on their bodies. More than 80% of the guns were loaded. The total number of firearms discovered at airport security checkpoints rose 22% from 2013, the DHS statistics show. 
 
 The No. 1 excuse given by passengers going through airport checkpoints with guns was that they forget they had the firearms with them. 
 
 When TSA officers find the guns, they call in police officers working at the airport. Police interview the passengers to see whether their guns are licensed and determine whether or not they should be arrested. The gun-toting passengers face thousands of dollars in federal fines. 
 
 Travelers with licensed guns are allowed to pack their unloaded firearms into checked bags only. 
 
 The top five airports for firearms discoveries in 2014 were Dallas/Fort Worth International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Denver International Airport. 
 
 A TSA officer screens airline passengers in Terminal C at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 2009. Dallas Fort Worth was one of the top five airports for firearm discoveries last year. (Photo: Tom Pennington, Getty Images) 
 
 An additional 1,400 dangerous objects — including stun guns, knives, razors and firearm components — were discovered. 
 
 Among the more unusual finds: 
 
 •An 8.5-inch knife was discovered inside an enchilada a woman traveler was carrying at the Sonoma County Airport in California. The TSA determined that the woman had no malicious intent. She had simply forgotten she had put the knife in with her food. 
 
 •A hand grenade was discovered in a carry-on bag at Los Angeles International Airport. A terminal was closed while the bomb squad took the grenade away to be defused. Five flights were delayed for more than 200 hours, affecting 800 passengers. 
 
 •A traveler was caught concealing small knives inside a combination pen/highlighter at the Philadelphia International Airport. 
 
 Weapons weren't the only contraband discovered by federal agents. 
 
 Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than 23,000 counterfeit goods with a retail value of more than $1.2 billion last year. 
 
 The agency seized more than $10 million in counterfeit Beats by Dre headphones, more than $1 million in counterfeit Gibson, Les Paul and other brand-name guitars, and more than $1 million in counterfeit soccer apparel with fake trademarks from popular teams such as Real Madrid, Celtic and Chelsea. 
 
 Despite the record number of firearms discovered by TSA, about 99% of airline passengers waited 20 minutes or less in airport security lines last year, the DHS statistics show. 
 
 That was partly because of increased enrollment in TSA Precheck and trusted-traveler programs run by Customs and Border Protection. Those programs allow pre-screened, low-risk passengers to go through expedited security screening lanes and customs lines. 
 
 More than 40% of airline passengers received some form of expedited screening in 2014. 
 
 Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1JqohDo ||||| Every day, transportation security officers interact with nearly two million travelers across the United States with a single goal in mind – ensuring the safety and security of the traveling public. 
 
 
 
 We want to share with you examples of the continued vigilance of TSA officers in protecting our nation’s transportation systems, including some of the most unusual items discovered at checkpoints. 
 
 
 
 more than 653 million passengers in 2014 (about 1.8 million per day), which is 14.8 million more passengers than TSA had a busy year in 2014, screeningpassengers in 2014 (aboutper day), which ismore passengers than last year 
 
 
 
 2,212 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country, averaging more than six firearms per day. Of those, 1,835 (83 percent) were loaded. Firearms were intercepted at a total of 224 airports; 19 more airports than last year. 
 
 
 
 There was a 22 percent increase in firearm discoveries from last year’s total of 1,813. 
 
 These are just some of the 2,212 firearms discovered in carry-on bags in 2014. 
 
 Top 10 Airports for Gun Catches in 2014 
 
 Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): 120 Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): 109 Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX): 78 George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): 77 Denver International Airport (DEN): 70 William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): 50 Tampa International Airport (TPA): 49 Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL): 49 Nashville International Airport (BNA): 48 Orlando International Airport (MCO): 47 
 
 Here are a few of the more notable firearm incidents: 
 
 
 
 
 
 record number of firearms discovered in one day was set on June 4, 2014, when 18 firearms were discovered around the country in carry-on bags. That broke the previous record of 13 set in 2013. 
 
 disassembled .22 caliber firearm was discovered in a carry-on bag at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Various components of the gun were found hidden inside a PlayStation 2 console. 
 
 An assault rifle with three loaded magazines was discovered at the Dallas Love Field (DAL) checkpoint. 
 
 loaded folding-stock rifle with two loaded magazines was discovered in a carry-on bag at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). 
 
 
 
 
 
 A 94-year-old man attempted to enter the checkpoint at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) with a loaded .38 caliber revolver clipped to his belt. 
 
 
 
 A loaded 380. caliber firearm was discovered strapped to a passenger’s ankle after walking through a metal detector at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). 
 
 
 
 A loaded 380. caliber firearm was discovered in the rear pocket of a San Antonio International Airport (SAT) passenger during advanced imaging technology screening. 
 
 In addition to firearms discovered this year, there were many unsafe items that passengers attempted to travel with this year including: 
 
 
 
 
 
 An Mk 2 hand grenade was discovered in a carry-on bag at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The Terminal 1 checkpoint was closed while the explosive ordnance disposal team transported the grenade to an offsite location to be disrupted. Five flights were delayed more than two hours, affecting 800 passengers. 
 
 homemade avalanche control charge was discovered in a carry-on bag at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC). FBI responded and arrested the passenger. 
 
 
 
 A traveler at Gerald R. Ford International Airport-Grand Rapids (GRR) had a tube in his carry-on bag containing 500 grains of black powder. 
 
 
 
 
 
 From the left: stun grenade (EVV), stun grenade (MEM), flare gun (AMA) and smoke grenade (SEA) 
 
 
 
 
 
 Officers also find inert items that appear very realistic. The problem with these types of items is that we don’t know if they are real, toys or replicas until TSA explosives experts are called upon. Inert items can lead to disruption, closed terminals and checkpoints, which often result in canceled or delayed flights. Here are some of the more interesting inert items found last year: 
 
 Six blocks of inert C-4 were discovered in a checked bag at Tampa (TPA). 
 
 novelty alarm clock resembling an explosive device was discovered in a carry-on bag at Kansas City (MCI). 
 
 An improvised explosives device (IED) training kit was discovered in a checked bag at Honolulu (HNL). 
 
 
 
 military training kit containing inert blasting caps, inert detonators, inert detonating cord and inert C-4 were discovered in a checked bag at Honolulu International Airport (HNL). The baggage room was evacuated causing a delay in screening. 
 
 Over 140 inert/novelty hand grenades were discovered last year in both checked and carry-on bags. 
 
 A realistic replica of a Claymore anti-personnel mine was discovered in a traveler’s checked bag at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). 
 
 
 
 
 
 An explosives training kit was discovered in a traveler’s checked bag at Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 From the left, items discovered at: CVG, SEA, SAN, and ATL 
 
 
 
 
 
 There were many instances last year when travelers attempted to hide items, or the items they packed were disguised to look like other items. TSA officers regularly find sword canes, credit card knives, belt buckle knives, comb/brush knives, knives hidden in shoes, knives hidden in thermoses and knives hidden under the bag lining near the handle mechanism. Here are a few instances that stood out: 
 
 
 
 
 
 An anomaly was detected with advanced imaging technology in the center chest area of a Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) passenger. After a pat-down, a pen and highlighter combo was discovered to be concealing small knives 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Razorblades were discovered concealed in a greeting card at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF). 
 
 
 
 
 
 multi-tool/knife was detected concealed inside the water chamber of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine at San Antonio International Airport (SAT). 
 
 
 
 
 
 When officers at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) opened a checked bag for a routine inspection, they discovered many household items, like baby wipes, coffee, lemonade mix and a box of cat litter. After a closer look, they found two disassembled .40 caliber handguns, 350 rounds of ammunition, and 58 bricks of marijuana (33 pounds) concealed in the products. The traveler was arrested on state charges by the Port Authority Police Department. 
 
 
 
 
 
 three-inch knife was found concealed inside of a laptop’s hard drive caddy at Dayton International Airport (DAY). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Clockwise from top left, items discovered at: BIL, BGM, MIA, DTW, LAX & BOS 
 
 These are examples of some of the more common artfully concealed items our officers find. 
 
 While TSA works to keep dangerous items off of commercial aircraft, when contraband is found, it must be reported to local law enforcement. Here are a few of the more notable narcotics discoveries: 
 
 
 
 
 
 80 pounds of marijuana was discovered in a checked bag at the McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) in California. 
 
 
 
 
 
 81 Pounds of Marijuana was discovered in checked baggage at the Oakland International Airport (OAK). 
 
 
 
 92 pounds of marijuana was discovered in a checked bag at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). 
 
 
 
 
 
 A San Jose International Airport (SJC) passenger was arrested after nearly three pounds of cocaine was discovered in his checked baggage wrapped inside a package of raw meat. 
 
 
 
 
 
 A plastic bag containing 67 pills hidden inside of a hollowed out textbook was discovered in checked baggage at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). 
 
 
 
 
 
 18 bags of heroin were discovered on the leg of an Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) passenger during advanced imaging technology screening. 
 
 
 
 
 
 The year also provided the need for travelers to surrender a few odd items: 
 
 
 
 
 
 An unloaded cannon barrel was discovered with a passenger’s checked items at the Kahului Airport (OGG). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Clockwise from top left, items discovered at: MDW, BUF, DEN, PHX, EWR, MKE, BTV and SLC 
 
 A selection of throwing knives and stars our officers discovered in 2014 
 
 Some of the knives and swords our officers discovered in 2014 
 
 2014 was also a great year for TSA Pre✓®! Be sure to read our blog post reflecting on risk-based security last year. 
 
 
 
 
 
 2012 & 2013. Thanks for reading this year’s run down of the more notable items TSA officers discovered in 2014. Keep in mind that far more was discovered than those listed in this report. When bag searches are needed, the line slows down. If you haven’t read them yet, make sure you check out our year in review posts for 2011
– "Oops, I forgot I packed that loaded gun." That's the excuse TSA agents heard more than a few times upon discovering 2,212 firearms in people's carry-on luggage at airports last year. That's 22% more than were found in 2013; just 660 firearms turned up in 2005. According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents discovered an average of six guns each day in carry-ons or on a passenger's body. More than 80% were loaded, USA Today reports. When police interviewed the travelers, who face thousands in fines, the most popular excuse was that they'd forgotten the guns were there. Denver, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, and Dallas international airports saw the most firearm discoveries. Passengers are allowed to pack firearms in checked baggage, provided the guns aren't loaded. Another 1,400 "dangerous objects" were also discovered last year. Among the more bizarre finds: a hand grenade, as well as an 8.5-inch knife inside an enchilada. In the case of the former, an LAX terminal was closed while a bomb squad intervened. In the latter case, the TSA determined the woman carrying the food forgot she put the knife inside. Stun guns, razors, firearm components, a pen/highlighter hiding small knives, and $1.2 billion in counterfeit goods—including $10 million worth of counterfeit Beats by Dre headphones—were also found. Three guns were spotted at Indianapolis International Airport on Wednesday alone, WTHR reports.