Pokemon TCG cards trigger airport security scare after being flagged as suspicious

A Pokemon TCG set got flagged as explosives in an airport, leaving one unlucky traveler facing a surreal half-hour interrogation over his booster packs.

Airport horror stories abound. A man once got kicked out for smuggling a turtle in his pants. Remember the viral woman who swore someone on her plane ‘wasn’t real’? She’s back to flying again, though she still refuses to reveal what she actually saw.

Worst of all, Chinese authorities previously seized Pokemon cards worth thousands from a traveler, which just proves that airports and Pokemon rarely mix well.

Now, a new nightmare joins the list, as a traveler carrying a few harmless packs suddenly found himself treated like a bomb suspect.

Pokemon TCG flagged as security threat at airport

In an appalling new entry in the Pokemon airport saga, one player revealed their cards got flagged by TSA as potential explosives.

FedHasABigDong via Reddit

He was stopped mid-security, pulled aside, and swabbed down. Officials asked a string of serious questions while armed officers gathered. He was finally released after thirty tense minutes, but the experience left him rattled.

“The other day I was going on holiday and decided to take some cards to gift a family member,” he explained. He had carried cards through airports before with no issues, but this time, alarms went off. A form was pulled out as officers accused him of carrying explosives.

“Anyway, about 30 minutes later, they let me go, saying I’m all good,” he recalled. His only question: why now, when the same packs cleared four other scanners?

An aviation security officer who also happens to be part of this subreddit explained. Pokemon cards, stacked together, appear as one dense organic mass on scanners, similar to explosives. Add shrink wrap or resealed boxes, and suspicion skyrockets.

Swabbing is routine, but common chemicals can create false positives. “Everyday items can trigger results,” the officer wrote. Even hair bleach or factory contamination could set alarms.

Skill levels of operators also vary, meaning some recognize Pokemon packs while others treat them as a threat.

Still, fans joked about the ordeal. “They saw a chase card through the scanner and wanted you to open it.” Another added, “For some reason, I picture the TSA agent opening your packs and doing the card trick.”

So, if you’re traveling with Pokemon cards, maybe keep them in checked luggage or pull them out like electronics at security. At least that way, the only thing making your trip explosive will be pulling a rare holo from your pack.