Without knowing what the item was that your friend would rather not say, you can't actually say that it was an illegal item. Many people still think that scissors, lighters, cigar cutters, nail clippers, tweezers, butter knives, rolling pins, bowling balls, and ice skates are prohibited items, but they are not. Did you friend go thru the Employee Check Point? (I am also wondering if this was the same friend that you PM'd me about that was travelling thru my airport). The rules for employees at the employee checkpoint are different than the rules at a passenger checkpoint. There are exemptions made for Crew members travelling in uniform. The liquid policy does not apply to them at all, nor do they have to take off there shoes. There are other exemptions also for other situations. It would be nice to know what he saw that he would rather not say, that way we can either explain why it happened, or be in awe of its stupidity also.