American photographer Taryn Simon spent 5 days taking pictures of cargo seized or detained from express mail and passengers entering the USA from abroad at Kennedy airport, New York. Simon Says:
“I think it’s a depressing reflection of what everyone is chasing — all these forms of escape that create quite a flat representation of human desire in all corners of the world. “
US currencies
Gold dust, India (undeclared)
Exotic fruits, Africa (prohibited
Watches, Patek Philippe, China (counterfeit)
Fake drugs, South Africa (prohibited)
Handbag, Louis Vuitton (disguised) (counterfeit)
Deer penis, Asian origin (9CFR.94) (prohibited)
Guinea pigs, Ecuador (CUI) (prohibited)
DVDs, Lost, Season 4 (pirated)
Unidentified white powder
Chicken feet (Avian Influenza/Newcastle Disease) (9CFR.94) (prohibited)
Leather cases with ornaments (undeclared)
Steroids, Testosterone & Sustanon, Pakistan (illegal)
Smoking Accessories (prohibited)
Unidentified mammal, Indonesia (prohibited)
Natural chewing gum made from raw sugar cane. Jamaica (prohibited)
Unknown liquid (prohibited)
Oxalis tuberosa, Peru (7CFR) (prohibited)
Stalks of millet. India. (prohibited)
Bird corpse, labeled as home décor, Indonesia to Miami, Florida (prohibited)
Cow hoof bottle, European origin (BSE, Foot and Mouth Disease) (9CFR.94) (prohibited)
Cigarettes, eight cartons, Marlboro (passenger declined to pay tax) (abandoned)
Cuban cigars, Juan Lopez, Hoyo De Monterrey (Foreign Assets Control) (prohibited)
Cow dung toothpaste, India (BSE, Foot and Mouth Disease) (9CFR.94.6) (prohibited)
USA American Visagra, Viagra, China (counterfeit)
Perfume and cologne (counterfeit)
Gemstones, Sri Lanka (held, pending appraisal)
Heroin, from India to NY (illegal)
Hydrocodone, India (illegal)
Ketamine, India (illegal)
Dry khat, Catha edulis, Kenya (illegal)
Nesting dolls with Disney characters, Snow White (counterfeit)
Peppers, Capsicum spp., Ghana (prohibited)
Blue and yellow pharmaceutical pills awaiting testing, Pakistan (prohibited)
Unmarked pills, China (prohibited)
Percussion pistol, Enfield 1858, Afghanistan (unlicensed)
South African Cycad with soil (7CFR319.37/7CFR 330.400 & CITES/ESA) (prohibited)
Horse sausage, Eastern European origin (natural casings) (9CFR.94) (prohibited)
Plastic pitcher of salami, Eastern Europe (9CFR.94) (prohibited)
Sexual enhancement drugs, Artillery King, China (prohibited)
Unidentified liquid, hidden in thermos in satin bedding
GBL, Poland (used as date rape drug) (illegal)
Source
Strange Things Confiscated Through the Lens of Taryn Simon
4/
5
Oleh
Agus Prasetyo
