Strange Items Confiscated at Kennedy Airport, New York

Mar 15, 2011 2 comments

These images are from a set of 1,075 photographs of items detained or seized from passengers or express mail entering the United States from abroad at the New York airport. These photographs were taken at both the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Site and the U.S. Postal Service International Mail Facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by American photographer Taryn Simon for her book and exhibition ‘‘Contraband’’.

contraband

The items ranged from banal bags of nuts to a falcon corpse from Indonesia, Fake Louis Vuitton handbags, steroids from Pakistan and counterfeit boxes of Viagra from China. Some items turn up again and again: sexual stimulants, counterfeit luxury goods and drugs. (See Unclaimed Baggage Center: A Retail Store of Lost Luggage)

Says Ms. Simon,

I think it’s a depressing reflection of what everyone is chasing — all these forms of escape that create quite a flat representation of human desire in all corners of the world.

Taryn Simon has meticulously cataloged every item alphabetically for the 500-page book, “Contraband,”. Below is an excerpt of 45 images taken from her website.

contraband1

Sala, lard, Ukraine (9CFR.94) (prohibited)

contraband2

US currencies

contraband3

Gold dust, India (undeclared)

contraband4

Exotic fruits, Africa (prohibited)

contraband5

Watches, Patek Philippe, China (counterfeit)

contraband6

Fake drugs, South Africa (prohibited)

contraband7

Handbag, Louis Vuitton (disguised) (counterfeit)

contraband8

Deer penis, Asian origin (9CFR.94) (prohibited)

contraband9

Guinea pigs, Ecuador (CUI) (prohibited)

contraband10

DVDs, Lost, Season 4 (pirated)

contraband11

Unidentified white powder

contraband12

Chicken feet (Avian Influenza/Newcastle Disease) (9CFR.94) (prohibited)

contraband13

Insect larvae and pupae of butterflies, India (prohibited.)

contraband14

Leather cases with ornaments (undeclared)

contraband15

Steroids, Testosterone & Sustanon, Pakistan (illegal)

contraband16

Smoking Accessories (prohibited)

contraband17

Unidentified mammal, Indonesia (prohibited)

contraband18

Natural chewing gum made from raw sugar cane. Jamaica (prohibited)

contraband19

Unknown liquid (prohibited)

contraband20

Oxalis tuberosa, Peru (7CFR) (prohibited)

contraband21

Stalks of millet. India. (prohibited)

contraband22

Bird corpse, labeled as home décor, Indonesia to Miami, Florida (prohibited)

contraband23

Cow hoof bottle, European origin (BSE, Foot and Mouth Disease) (9CFR.94) (prohibited)

contraband24

Cigarettes, eight cartons, Marlboro (passenger declined to pay tax) (abandoned)

contraband25

Cuban cigars, Juan Lopez, Hoyo De Monterrey (Foreign Assets Control) (prohibited)

contraband26

Cow dung toothpaste, India (BSE, Foot and Mouth Disease) (9CFR.94.6) (prohibited)

contraband27

Deer antlers (9CFR.94, CITES/ESA) (prohibited)

contraband28

USA American Visagra, Viagra, China (counterfeit)

contraband29

Perfume and cologne (counterfeit)

contraband30

Gemstones, Sri Lanka (held, pending appraisal)

contraband31

Heroin, from India to NY (illegal)

contraband32

Hydrocodone, India (illegal)

contraband33

Ketamine, India (illegal)

contraband34

Dry khat, Catha edulis, Kenya (illegal)

contraband35

Nesting dolls with Disney characters, Snow White (counterfeit)

contraband36

Peppers, Capsicum spp., Ghana (prohibited)

contraband37

Blue and yellow pharmaceutical pills awaiting testing, Pakistan (prohibited)

contraband38

Unmarked pills, China (prohibited)

contraband39

Percussion pistol, Enfield 1858, Afghanistan (unlicensed)

contraband40

South African Cycad with soil (7CFR319.37/7CFR 330.400 & CITES/ESA) (prohibited)

contraband41

Horse sausage, Eastern European origin (natural casings) (9CFR.94) (prohibited)

contraband42

Plastic pitcher of salami, Eastern Europe (9CFR.94) (prohibited)

contraband43

Sexual enhancement drugs, Artillery King, China (prohibited)

contraband44

Unidentified liquid, hidden in thermos in satin bedding

contraband45

GBL, Poland (used as date rape drug) (illegal)

Comments

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