Swords, knives, fake handguns ... seized by Dubai airport security

DUBAI: Deadly knives and fake semi-automatic weapons have been found on passengers using Dubai airport terminals, it has been revealed.

Some of the items seized by airport security over the years have now been put on display till Thursday at the Airport Show in the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

They include several-foot-long blades disguised as walking canes and knives masquerading as pens. There are also dummy handguns and high-calibre ammo replicas. Brass knuckles associated with gang fights have also been confiscated.

Passengers caught carrying the items on person or in hand luggage often claimed they were for protection, according to an official at the exhibit, organized by Dubai Police's General Department of Airports Security. Smaller items like miniature models of handguns or bullet rounds were used as fashion accessories, at times as belt buckles.

Wolfgang Glassner, Managing Director of German-based security firm STI Ltd which is participating in the show, said model or toy guns are not allowed in cabin baggage or on passengers at airports worldwide, adding that nothing should be left to chance in today's security environment.

There has been at least one case of a traveller sporting a live round as a souvenir from a war-torn country. Another was stopped by security for having a tiny heater in his shoes - it was not immediately clear if the passenger was left barefoot or had spare footware.

"Security personnel are under stress, they may not have time to quickly decide if something is real or half-real. So it makes sense to avoid the problem from the beginning by taking (the objectionable item) away," Glassner said.

"Otherwise someone can really cause panic. Well-trained experts, say at X-ray machines, can tell what's a threat or not - but other people at the airport or in the plane don't know that.

"You can carry many things with permission in the check-in baggage. Whatever goes in the cabin baggage goes in the cabin, and you can't take chances with that," said Glassner.

Security routinely withholds liquids and creams - like perfumes, refreshments, and hair gels - more than 100ml in volume. Other prohibited items include wires, ropes, masking tapes and handcuffs.

Some of the items on display could have made it onto flights with permission had they been placed in check-in luggage instead.

Police officials at the exhibit declined to comment.