Airport security shows are a dime a dozen. We’ve all seen enough confiscated snow globes and suspiciously dense pineapples to last a lifetime. But Discovery’s Contraband: Seized at the Airport, while not reinventing the wheel, offers a certain voyeuristic thrill. Who among us hasn’t wondered what lurks in that oversized luggage or why someone would travel with a taxidermied ferret? This week’s episode, “Does Not Compute,” airing Monday, November 25th, leans into the inherent weirdness of air travel, focusing on some particularly baffling smuggling attempts.
First up, a vintage computer. Yes, a computer. Apparently, smuggling isn’t limited to the latest gadgets. Officers eye this dusty relic with suspicion, convinced its clunky exterior might be concealing something more illicit than outdated software. Whether it’s packed with contraband or just a really slow boot-up, we’ll have to tune in to find out.
Then there’s the Betta fish enthusiast. Now, I’m no ichthyologist, but a “large quantity” of Betta fish for “personal use” sounds fishy, pun absolutely intended. These territorial little fighters are, unfortunately, popular in illegal fish fighting rings. While this traveler may genuinely just enjoy a vibrant aquarium, Homeland Security isn’t taking any chances.
“Does Not Compute” takes a peek into the strange reality of airport security across five major U.S. airports: San Francisco, Detroit, Newark, Atlanta, and Honolulu. The show continues to illustrate that for every meticulously planned smuggling operation, there’s someone trying to sneak through customs with something truly bizarre. The continued appeal of these shows lies not just in the “gotcha” moment, but in the sheer unpredictability of human behavior.
Contraband: Seized at the Airport airs Mondays at 9:00 PM on Discovery.
