Airports: Where do the seized items go after check in

There are thousands of people out there with a similar dilemma and frustration.  I have seen passengers fluster with the reality they could lose that expensive perfume, those special knives, (perhaps the knife you used to cut your wedding cake), some expensive rare alcoholic beverages or some other item you so cherish but it’s prohibited by airport authorities to carry onboard an aircraft. Recently at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2), Lagos, I heard a lady express frustration over a seized Gucci perform at the checkpoints. The middle aged passenger identified as Grace Jegede said her Gucci perform and body spray were seized at the checking point and she didn’t find it funny surrendering them. But she had options she could have explored to keep her cherished items. She knew of two options. First was to take the item to the ticket counter and check it in as her checkin baggage - an option she couldn’t explore except she wanted to miss her flight. She also had a choice of going back to hand the item to any of her relations or friend who might have escorted her to the airport. Another luxury option she couldn’t take. There was a third option, she would have explored. She wasn’t aware of this and the airport officials didn’t tell her: She could have sent a friend or relation to pick it later with the security. All she needed do was complete a form stating the item and who would come collect them. She could even return to collect the items herself if she prefers so. Passengers aren’t always able to use these options due to the possibility of missing flights, etc. So, what really happens to these items if passengers can’t use one of the options Many customers are under the impression that the security officers who seized those items get to keep the items. But Mr. John J. Omaghomi, Ag. Director, Aviation Security (AVSEC) who keeps those items said it just doesn’t happen as culprits would have their appointments terminated. “Thousands of items are identified each year by our security officers at the airports that are prohibited from being carried onto an aircraft. “The common items include things like knives, scissors (larger than 4 inches), some tools, chain saws, swords, boulders, alcohol, perfumes, toothpaste, body sprays, insecticides, mosquito fleet and so on. “There are also abandoned items. Some passengers abandon some items during the screening process particularly in excess luggage situations. “Some others forget items during screening. Items like laptops, wrist watches, belts, phones, notepads, umbrellas etc. “But such items like explosives, guns, switch blades when discovered, are promptly reported to the police or the state security services depending on the items discovered,” Mr. Omaghomi explained. He said that the seized items and abandoned items are stored for a period of time should the owners want to reclaim them. “We have a store we keep the abandoned items because the passengers may come back for the items. But after 120 days, if the passenger doesn’t come for them, the items are destroyed. To claim, you must come with proof of ownership,” he explained. “But in the case of phones, cameras, laptops, notepads, the 120 days don’t apply. We could keep them as long as possible just in case the owner shows up. We once had a case of a forgotten camera and the owner came back after six months,” he noted. Mr. Onoigboria O. Nat, the Deputy General Manager, AVSEC explained further: “For liquids like perfume, the maximum volume allowed is 100ml. If it is beyond 100ml, it is seized at the screening point. If you insist that you don’t want to let go of any of your seized items, you are given a form to complete. In the form, you will indicate who would come pick the item on your behalf. This is because at the point where the items are seized, you don’t have any company like relations or friends that you can handover any item to. But if you want to return and pick it yourself, you indicate in the form you have completed as well. “Before I became GM, I was the head of the screening unit at the airport. From my experience, once you bring the forms for them to complete, they decline. Some will just reach a verbal understanding with the supervisor to keep the item safe until they return. But for safety reasons, the supervisor will still enter the item in the form. This is official precaution just in case the supervisor isn’t around, someone can easily make reference from the document,” he told our correspondent. He also said that sometimes, security would also take the items to tag them as part of the passenger’s baggage so that he or she can collect on arrival. In some other instances, he explained that security personnel would call on the airline to consent to carrying the item at their own risk. But most times, the airlines, too decline to carry the items thus leaving the passenger with no option than to forfeit it or check it in. Mr. Nat said some of the complaints by passengers are out of ignorance. “We have banners at the airports displaying the banned items and we expect passengers to comply,” he said. Of course, the rule of the thumb is know what is in your bag so you do not bring a prohibited item to the checkpoint only to lose it.