Pork Tamales, Giant Snails, Fake Viagra and Other Busts at LAX

See photos of some of the odd items seized at Los Angeles International Airport.

10 photos
1/10
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Thousands of counterfeit items that would be worth millions --if they were genuine -- were seized in an LAX bust. The items included fake brands like Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and more Aug. 14, 2019. Read more about the other products found, like 678 pairs of counterfeit Nike shoes, 100 counterfeit Versace belts, and more here.
2/10
CBP
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized 450 pork tamales on Monday, Nov. 2, 2015. See the story here.
3/10
USDA APHIS PPQ Los Angeles
Sixty-seven giant African snails were seized by officials on Monday, July 14, 2014. See the story here.
4/10
Department of Justice
A Fountain Valley man smuggled nearly 100 Asian songbirds in March 2017 on his flight from Vietnam to Los Angeles. Most of the birds died in transit. The man was arrested on federal animal smuggling charges on May 2, 2017. See the story here.
5/10
Getty
A 71-year-old traveler from South Korea was stopped by customs officials who discovered nearly 40,000 fake pills stuffed in his luggage and a golf bag on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. The bust included more than 29,000 fake Viagra pills -similar to the ones pictured here- along with 8,000 fake Cialis pills and 700 Levitra look-alikesnSee the story here.
6/10
TSA, LAX
Two passengers tried to smuggle 100 pounds of marijuana in cupcake-covered wrapping paper on Sept. 25, 2013. See the story here.
7/10
CBP
In August 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at an air cargo consignment facility of Los Angeles International Airport seized three gallons of Gamma-Butyrolactone, a strong intoxicant used to make the "date rape" drug. See the story here.
8/10
CBP
Thousands of fake MAC brushes were confiscated in shipments between Jan. 20 and Feb. 11 of 2011. Authorities said the haul, which included about 5,400 brushes, had a suggested retail price of $112,500. See the story here.
9/10
CBP
Customs agents seized 200 pounds of dates from a passenger due to the possibility of disease and insect infestation. The passenger told authorities the fresh dates were from Saudi Arabia. See the story here.
10/10
U.S. attorney's office
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service investigators discovered 14 live birds strapped to a traveler’s legs in April of 2009. The man had bird feathers and droppings on his socks, as well as birds' tail feathers visible under his pants. See the story here.
Contact Us