Originally Posted by
birdstrike
So, if the screeners see a bundle of bills, do they claim the right to count it out themselves? Or do they call a LEO and say they have a wad 'o cash to evaluate?
How do they know that they are dealing with $9,999 or $10,001?
"However, there's a huge difference between looking for drugs/cash and discovering these items incidental to a search".
How can that be since every air traveler is searched? If the TSA is efficient they will observe all of these things, otherwise they are failing to meet their primary mandate.
Excellent question. I can't account for how they do it at other airports, but at mine, I have the TSOs notify a lead or supervisor any time they encounter any bag that has large amounts of cash inside so that there's a witness present for the screener's protection. First thing I do is find out whether the passenger is domestic or international. If domestic, then I have the passenger remove the cash and hold it while the TSO continues with the search. If international, I simply ask the passenger to claim the amount and handle it accordingly. It's really not a big deal as others in here seem to make it. I am obligated to inform the LEO if it meets the reporting criteria; and the LEOs calmly remind passengers to make sure they properly claim the amount with the airline if $10k or over.
As for your comment about the drug paraphernalia, we're looking for items on the prohibited items list. If there's a stash of marijuana in a bag next to a pocketknife, the only way we'll find it is when we spot the knife on x-ray and come across the stash while looking for the knife. Otherwise, we're not going to spot the stash. Our primary job is NOT to look for drugs. No harm, no foul. This is not a big deal.