A man was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport this morning (March 19) after a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer detected a handgun frame concealed inside a sneaker box at a checkpoint in Terminal A.

Firearm parts are not allowed past checkpoints because if several passengers each show up with a piece of a firearm, they could possibly assemble the components into a functioning weapon.

As a reminder, individuals who bring weapons to a checkpoint are subject to federal civil penalties of up to $13,000. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $3,900. The complete list of penalties is posted online here.