Creative Methods of Concealment (2024)

Concealment is the act of hiding or preventing something from being known. It happens more often than we’d like, ranging from minor infractions to major threats to our security. The unknown variable of who may or may not try to sneak items passed the checkpoint constantly requires security personnel to be on guard.

Fortunately, personnel are trained to detect anomalies and pick up on various concealment methods used by these offenders. Let’s discuss concealment and some creative tactics observed in the industry that all checkpoint staff should be aware of.

Reasons for Concealment

The motives behind why people intentionally hide items differ greatly from person to person. Here are the most common reasons:

• They believe what they hide to be harmless or not a big deal.
• They want to avoid taxes and duties levied against them.
• They are trafficking items that are regulated, strictly prohibited, or illegal.
• They have malicious intentions to cause destruction and serious harm to others.
• They are deliberately trying to test how secure the system may be.

Concealment Tactics

Not long ago, offenders could simply place illegal or prohibited items within baggage, shipments, and on their persons without it being detected. With the advancement of technology and improved industry knowledge, this old method of basic concealment no longer works as well as it once did. As a result, new methods of concealment were developed.

Typical tactics used today include:

• Use of dense, shield objects
• Disguise as safe, innocent items
• Insertion within electronics and machinery
• Separating components

Creative Concealment Techniques

There are many ways in which an offender can conceal items – some more creative than others. In one instance, millions of cigarettes were hidden inside cut-out sections of glass panes to avoid import duties at a port and border checkpoint. In another, contraband including drugs and cell phones has been discovered in dense pallets of food delivered to prisons and correctional facilities.

We have seen small knives disguised as lipstick and combs at the airport checkpoint. In addition, drugs have been hidden inside of hollowed out pineapples as well as wrapped in green tape to resemble limes in cross-border cargo shipments.

Along the same lines, elaborate explosive devices have been embedded within complex electronics and machinery. Sometimes hidden so well that it can be difficult to determine which parts were there initially and which have been implanted. An improvised explosive device (IED) implanted within a laptop is an example of this advanced concealment tactic.

Conclusion

A strong security culture with an emphasis on information sharing of the industry’s latest concealment tactics is imperative. When matched with a well-trained security screener, those employing these types of concealment methods will be unsuccessful at slipping contraband and threats past the checkpoint.

Topics: Aviation Security, General Security, Cargo Security, Ports & Borders, Critical Infrastructure, Transportation