If the actual mission of the TSA was preventing terrorist acts, then they would have done something about this massive and completely obvious vulnerability.
My opinion, however, is that the TSA has become an arm of the DEA and the "war on drugs". They make a big security theater production in the name of stopping terrorists but 99% of their daily activities are centered on seizing drugs.
Well, now that I've looked for some sources to back this up, it seems that the fact that I stated above is either difficult to prove or just not true. The TSA is not very forthcoming with statistics on drug seizures.
I'll admit that the original statement was basically a guess. If the TSA isn't stopping terrorism, or making reasonable steps to prevent it, then what exactly are they doing?
In the US, it has seemed that if you can't immediately tell the source or purpose of a law enforcement effort, then "drugs" is a pretty good guess.
I wouldn't think they'd have the authority to seize the drugs themselves, since the warning sign is from the Port of Portland, the governmental authority that oversees PDX as well as marine ports. My feeling is that they would be obligated to attempt to hold the bag (less likely) or flag the bag and passenger (more likely) for a Port Authority Police officer to handle.
EDIT: According to one story [0], the TSA cooperated as, essentially, an "informant" for the DEA, flagging those with large quantities of cash, for the DEA to then seize or investigate.
EDIT 2: In fact, the TSA policy is to keep dangerous materials off aircraft, but they have no real enforcement authority. Law enforcement gets involved when, for example, narcotics are found. "While TSA works to keep dangerous items off of commercial aircraft, when contraband is found, it must be reported to local law enforcement. Here are a few of the more notable narcotics discoveries:" [1].
True, but they wouldn't be able to alert authorities if they weren't actively looking for the items, which gets back to the original issue of speed of inspection.
I would go further to suggest that, simply, more people attempt to carry contraband such as illegal drugs, than attempt to carry "dangerous" items, such as those that "terrorists" would ostensibly try to bring on board.
Since the TSA is obligated to report such finds to local law enforcement, and that law enforcement is routinely a radio call and 45 seconds away, it appears that the TSA is responsible for arrests and seizures when, in fact, they have no authority to do so themselves, but rather the obligation to report illegal goods.
Don't get me wrong, the TSA's involvement in the "war on drugs" isn't in question. They're an informant. But when they find a gun in your bag, they're still an informant. They inform law enforcement, who comes to question and/or arrest the passenger. Other than the deflection of liability should something dangerous get through the screening checkpoints, I personally think we could do without the TSA.
If the actual mission of the TSA was preventing terrorist acts, then they would have done something about this massive and completely obvious vulnerability.
My opinion, however, is that the TSA has become an arm of the DEA and the "war on drugs". They make a big security theater production in the name of stopping terrorists but 99% of their daily activities are centered on seizing drugs.