In late September, he left Stockholm for Berlin. A bag he checked on the almost empty flight disappeared, with three encrypted laptops. It has not resurfaced; Mr. Assange suspects it was intercepted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/world/24assange.html
.... talk about the other meaning of "checked" baggage and of "intercepted".
Fortunately for him, the bag's contents are covered by the Montreal Convention rules and airlines aren't allowed to exempt themselves from liability for lost/stolen/damaged/missing electronics in checked luggage.