Police: Infant found by airport security inside carry-on

Arab couple arrested after trying to smuggle baby through airport x-ray in a handbag. Photo via Sharjah Police.

A 5-month-old infant was found inside a carry-on bag while his parents attempted to go through airport security at the Sharjah International Airport in the United Emirates. The Egyptian couple made a previous attempt to take the baby through security but were denied because the baby didn’t have a visa. According to CNN, the couple was told they would have to wait the entire weekend inside the airport with the baby, until the visa office opened so they could apply for the appropriate documentation for the child.

Apparently the father got frustrated and convinced his wife to try to smuggle the infant through security. He concocted a plan to place the baby inside their carry on, thinking the small baby would go through the belt scanner unnoticed and then they would retrieve their baby boy on the other side. Security spotted the baby however, after picking up the outline of his body on the x-ray.

Police told the Gulf News that they were shocked and accused the couple of putting their baby in a great deal of risk, “This machine is very dangerous for anyone, let alone a baby in a bag to pass through.”

Police were called and the couple were arrested. They are currently being detained in the UAE while police continue to investigate the situation.