In March '02 I was flying out of Bucharest. I had bought a lovely antique letter opener for the office receptionist and had thoughtfully packed it in my checked luggage. I didn't realize that I had to go through security before getting to the ticket counter. They promptly found the letter opener and the 8 or so security guards/army rangers with machine guns gasped out loud (not kidding!) Scary moment as I tried to explain in most any language I could think of (no time to pull out the Romanian phrase book!) that I wished to check the bag. Shortly before I was to be shipped to the Gulag, I thought of the universal word "cargo". They nodded their heads and looks considerably less tense - and sent three guards with me and my bag to make sure I checked it. Phew.
So perhaps this should have been added to the "worst airports for scissors" thread.