Moline, Ill. – TSA officers at the Quad City International Airport (MLI) discovered a firearm at the security checkpoint Sunday evening.
The 9 mm HK-Heckler & Koch USP firearm was discovered Sunday, April 22. TSA officers spotted the firearm in an Atlanta-bound passenger’s carry-on luggage as it was screened at the checkpoint. When discovered, TSA immediately notified local law enforcement who responded to the checkpoint to interview the individual and take possession of the firearm. The 37-year-old male passenger was arrested by police on a local charge.
TSA reminds passengers that they are solely responsible for the content of bags brought to the airport checkpoint.
Individuals who bring firearms to security checkpoints are referred to law enforcement and may be subject to criminal penalties by local law enforcement. In additional to criminal referrals, TSA imposes civil penalties ranging up to $9,800 for a single violation of a firearm brought to a security checkpoint. TSA continues to intercept firearms and other dangerous weapons at security checkpoints nationwide. The number of firearms detected at the checkpoint continues to rise nationwide. TSA discovered 3,957 firearms at checkpoints across the nation last year and nearly 3,400 firearms in 2016. This is the first firearm detected at MLI this year.
Our TSA Year in Review blog has more information on firearms discovered in 2017.