A man with a fake "gun" was stopped by TSA agents at Hilo International Airport in Hawaii, where it was found that "over 12,000 doses" of fentanyl were found inside resealable bags. The man was detained and faces a very steep bond for his possession of drugs.

"Powdery, Rock-Like Substance"

On Saturday, September 21, Olaf Seyler (60) of Honolulu attempted to get through a TSA security checkpoint before an X-ray machine detected what appeared to be a gun inside his carry-on bag. This prompted TSA personnel to inspect his bag, where they found an imitation Glock 17 airsoft pistol, but also dozens of drug packets as well as some drug paraphernalia. Police officers were called to inspect the bag at approximately 2:55 p.m.

A total of 27 one-inch releasable packets containing a "powdery, rock-like substance" — later identified as fentanyl, were found inside the bag. Other items inside the carry-on bag included a packet of methamphetamine, a glass smoking pipe, and a digital scale.

Hawaii Police Department arrested Seyler on a suspected possession of narcotics, where he was then transported to the East Hawaii Detention Facility. His carry-on bag was confiscated and taken to the Hilo Police Station where a search warrant of the luggage was planned and executed on Sunday.

Local media reports that a total of 24.57 net grams of fentanyl were recovered from the 27 miniature packets. 0.63 grams of methamphetamine and an extra 0.93 grams of fentanyl were found in slightly larger packets.

The Drug Enforcement Administration states that 2 milligrams (.002 grams) of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose. Altogether, the overall drugs in Seyler's possession contained more than 12,000 of these doses.

Seyler was charged on Monday afternoon with first-, second-, and third-degree attempted promotion of a dangerous drug. A judge had set Seyler's bail at a hefty $210,000 bond. His next court date was scheduled for this past Wednesday.
 

As of now, there is no word if he faces additional penalties or charges for possession of his airsoft gun. According to TSA's What Can I Bring? page, realistic replicas of firearms are prohibited on carry-on bags.

Drug Confiscation Around The World

In the United States and abroad, airport authorities confiscate hundreds of thousands of pounds of drugs every year, with no definite answers for how this epidemic can be reduced.

In two separate incidents in July, the Canada Border Service Agency stopped passengers who concealed methamphetamine in suitcases that they attempted to get through security. These two passengers carried a total of 24.84 kilograms (11.8 pounds).

Last month, the United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) found a five-pound bottle of gamma butyrolactone that belonged to a 26-year-old travelers that flew in from Spain. This drug is often described as "coma in a bottle" as it causes severe drowsiness to those that consume it.

And just last week, professional soccer star Jay Emanuel-Thomas and two other women were stopped at Glasgow Airport where the National Crime Agency found £600,000 worth of cannabis in multiple bags of luggage. A similar incident also occurred earlier in the year where two men attempted to sneak over £300,000 worth of cannabis into Scotland.