When it comes to hiding things, some people get incredibly creative—or downright desperate. Especially when those ‘things’ are firearms and they’re trying to evade the law. While firearm offenses are serious business, the lengths some individuals go to conceal weapons can venture into the realm of the truly bizarre, almost unbelievable. Get ready to be surprised, and maybe a little shocked, as we count down 10 of the strangest places people have actually hidden firearms.
10. Raw Chicken
In 2022, Florida’s TSA checkpoints saw a record number of firearms. A particularly memorable incident occurred in September when the TSA shared on Instagram about “the plot chickens.” Someone had attempted to smuggle a firearm by stuffing it inside a raw chicken. This unusual event took place at the baggage screening facility at Fort Lauderdale’s Terminal 4.
The individual involved was reportedly traveling to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Such an offense can lead to penalties exceeding $13,000, even without an arrest. The TSA has specific regulations for transporting firearms: they must be in checked luggage and packed according to their rules, not hidden inside poultry. Besides the firearm risk, raw chicken itself poses a health hazard due to bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli, which can contaminate surfaces. Surprisingly, this wasn’t an isolated incident; in 2021, TSA agents in Seattle found another raw chicken, though without a firearm, on a luggage carousel.
9. A Gaming Console
Sony stopped making the PlayStation 2 in 2013. However, a year later, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey discovered parts of a gun hidden inside an old PlayStation 2 console and a game case. Officers grew suspicious when the item passed through an X-ray machine at the airport. A closer inspection revealed several pieces of a .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun tucked away inside the console, along with a tripod.
The game box, labeled “Nick Toons: Attack of the Toybots,” ironically featured cartoon characters ready for a fight. Law enforcement found the gun parts after removing the bottom panel of the PlayStation 2. The man attempting to transport these items was on his way to Mexico City and was subsequently arrested on weapon charges.
8. A Donated Sock
A tragic event occurred in 2014 at a Chicago thrift store. A worker sorting through donated clothing died after a gun hidden inside a sock accidentally discharged, striking her in the chest. The incident happened at the Unique Thrift Store as she was going through donations. A male co-worker had picked up a sock that felt heavy. When he emptied it, a .22 caliber handgun fell out and fired, fatally wounding the female worker.
It’s still unclear how the firearm ended up in the donated sock. A significant portion of donated clothing in the U.S. is discarded, with about 25% going to landfills and 40-50% exported for the secondhand market. This leaves a smaller percentage for domestic sale, highlighting the unexpected dangers that can lurk in donated goods.
7. A Hair Weave
In Raleigh, 2014, a woman was arrested after authorities discovered she had allegedly smuggled a gun into the Wake County Detention Center by concealing it in her hair weave. She was initially detained during an early morning raid at a nightclub on charges including resisting an officer, carrying a concealed weapon, and possessing a stolen firearm. It wasn’t specified if this was the same gun found in her hair.
The weapon, a small derringer, was found during a court hearing while the woman was in the detention center’s booking area, before being fully processed into the jail. This incident prompted the department to review its policies to determine if they were properly followed and if any revisions were necessary. The woman’s bond was set at $65,000.
6. An Oven’s Broiler
An Ohio man in Warren made a risky decision in 2018 when he hid his firearm in the oven’s broiler for safekeeping because children were visiting his home. Later, his girlfriend, unaware of the hidden gun, decided to use the oven. While she was cooking, she heard a loud “bang” and called out to the man, thinking it was a gunshot from outside. The man rushed to the oven, opened the broiler, and tried to retrieve his revolver, sustaining a minor burn in the process.
The oven’s heat caused bullets inside the gun to explode. Two bullets or fragments struck the man in front of each shoulder. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and was reported to be in stable condition. Bullet holes were later found in the stove, and the gun appeared damaged by fire. A detective noted it was the first time in his 30-year career he’d seen someone shot by an appliance.
5. A Baby Shower Gift
The Baby Einstein brand is usually associated with educational toys, but one Florida couple got a shocking surprise. During their baby shower, they received what they thought was a Baby Einstein infant bouncer. However, upon opening the box, they discovered a semi-automatic .22 caliber Mossberg rifle instead of the expected baby jumper. The friends who gave the gift had purchased it from a Goodwill store in Valparaiso, Florida.
The box was taped shut at the time of purchase, and the gift-givers had no idea it contained a rifle. The firearm was not reported stolen, and there was no indication it was linked to any criminal activity. Initially, law enforcement allowed the expectant couple to keep the rifle after confirming they weren’t felons. However, upon further review, authorities later requested possession of the weapon.
4. A DVD Player
In 2018, a man traveling from New York’s JFK International Airport was arrested after a firearm was found hidden inside a DVD player in his checked baggage. The 9 mm handgun was wrapped in aluminum foil and concealed within the electronic device. Fortunately, the firearm was not loaded at the time of its discovery. The man was apprehended at his gate before he could board his flight to Mexico and was subsequently charged with weapons violations.
This isn’t the only strange tale involving DVD players. In a separate, unrelated incident in 2021, a Pennsylvania couple received a settlement after suing a former roommate who had given them a DVD player equipped with a hidden camera. This camera secretly recorded the couple in private moments.
3. A Teddy Bear
Teddy bears are beloved gifts worldwide, but sometimes they can harbor unexpected secrets. In 2019, police in the Nashville area arrested two teenagers and discovered two firearms hidden inside teddy bears at an apartment. Officers were called to the location following reports of two masked teenagers carrying firearms.
When police arrived, the teenagers attempted to flee but were caught. The apartment’s leaseholder permitted a search, during which officers found the two guns concealed within a stuffed teddy bear. Alongside the weapons, they also discovered 167 MDMA pills, 182 Xanax pills, and other drugs packaged for sale.
2. A Vagina
Medical studies indicate the average vaginal depth is about 3.77 inches, though variations exist. In a shocking 2012 case, a Texas woman arrested during a late-night traffic stop was found to have a loaded handgun hidden inside her vagina. She and a male companion were also found with methamphetamines under the vehicle’s driver seat and in a purse, along with a set of scales.
While en route to jail, the woman informed officers about the concealed firearm. The officer immediately stopped and searched her, confirming she had a Smith & Wesson Model 61 semi-automatic pistol inside her body cavity. The weapon had a round chambered and a full magazine. It’s unknown if the safety was engaged. The pistol’s length of 4.69 inches raised questions about how it was concealed. The woman faced multiple charges, including drug offenses and unlawfully carrying a weapon.
1. Underwear
A Michigan man faced charges in 2019 after he managed to hide a loaded revolver in his underwear while being booked into Cook County Jail. The .22 caliber revolver, complete with live rounds, was discovered when the man passed through one of the jail’s body scanners. The scan revealed an object in his crotch area that resembled a handgun’s handle.
A strip search initially yielded nothing, prompting an investigation by the Sheriff’s office into how the weapon was smuggled in, especially since the man had been in custody for two days and had attended a bond hearing. He was later charged with possession of contraband in a penal institution. While hiding a gun in underwear is alarming, it might not be the strangest item found there; in 2017, a man in Maryland reportedly hid a digital scale in his underwear during a traffic stop.
BONUS: Anal Cavity
In 2015, New Jersey law enforcement discovered a man hiding a firearm inside his anal cavity. He was initially arrested on a contempt of court warrant. Officers became suspicious when he asked to use the restroom but then changed his mind after being told he and the bathroom would be searched before and after.
A subsequent search revealed a fully loaded automatic handgun pushed between his buttocks and into his anus. The weapon was later found to have been stolen in Alabama. The man faced additional charges, including unlawful possession of a weapon, receiving stolen property, and contempt. Concealing items in this manner is extremely dangerous, posing risks like intestinal obstruction, intoxication if drugs are involved, and, in this case, accidental firearm discharge.
These stories highlight the extreme, and often dangerous, lengths some individuals will go to conceal firearms. From everyday objects to body cavities, the ingenuity—or desperation—can be truly mind-boggling. While some of these accounts might seem almost comical, they underscore serious risks and the challenges faced by law enforcement.
What’s the most unbelievable hiding spot you’ve ever heard of? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
