Alberto Stegeman is known for showing the security flaws at Schiphol airport. Now, he has a new special that shows how easy it is to get all the liquids you want past security.
The reporter found the security flaw in the airport’s duty-free shopping system. At Schiphol airport, passengers flying to countries outside the Schengan Agreement Area can buy bottles of alcohol at duty-free shops before going through security. They are then permitted to take these bottles onto flights, provided that they have the bottles sealed at the shop.
Mr Stegeman bought a bottle, emptied it and refilled it with another liquid. After that he returned to the same shop and ‘bought’ the refilled bottle again. The shop sealed the bottle in a bag, allowing him to take it with him through security and onto a London-bound flight. In London, he transferred planes and carried the bottle onto a flight to Washington DC.
This isn’t the first time that Mr Stegeman has found a security flaw in at Schiphol airport. When he went through security, he was recognized and was subject to an extra-thorough check. However, officers failed to check the sealed bag.
Bruce Schneier notes that, “The flaw, of course, is the assumption that bottles bought at a duty-free shop actually come from the duty-free shop.”
But note that 1) it’s the same airport as underwear bomber, 2) reporter is known for trying to defeat airport security, and 3) body scanners would have made no difference.
You can watch the video here. It’s mostly in Dutch, with a few bits in English. You can still see what’s happening even if you don’t speak Dutch.
