Pennsylvania Man Caught Trying to Smuggle Turtle in His Pants Through Security at N.J. Airport

A man has been caught trying to smuggle a turtle through airport security in a rather unusual location.

On Tuesday, March 11, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) revealed in a press release that the individual from Pennsylvania was caught with a turtle in his pants at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on March 7.

The discovery came after an alarm on a TSA body scanner was activated in the man’s groin area.

“A TSA officer administered a pat-down of the area of the man’s body where the alarm was triggered and in doing so, determined that there was something concealed in the area of the man’s groin,” the release read.

Officials added, “When asked if there was something hidden in his pants, the man, a resident of East Stroudsburg, Pa., reached down the front of his pants and pulled out a live turtle that was wrapped in a small blue towel.”

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TSA officials said the turtle was around 5 inches long, and the man told staff the reptile was a red-ear slider turtle.

According to the release, the man was questioned by Port Authority Police, who took the turtle and “indicated that they would contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local animal control officials. “

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Officials said the man ended up missing his flight and was escorted out of the checkpoint by police.

“I commend our officer who conducted the pat-down in a very professional manner in an effort to resolve the alarm,” Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey, said in a statement. “We have seen travelers try to conceal knives and other weapons on their person, in their shoes and in their luggage, however I believe this is the first time we have come across someone who was concealing a live animal down the front of his pants.”

He added,  “As best as we could tell, the turtle was not harmed by the man’s actions.”

PEOPLE has contacted Newark Liberty International Airport and Port Authority Police for further comment.