Once when I was 'passing through' I was told to empty my bag. I did. There's something hidden, I was told. I shook the bag, turned it upside down, shook it again.

The bag was x-rayed...the hidden object...a knife?

I showed the officer my shaking of the bag, holding it upside down, etc.

She still wouldn't pass it.

So what do you suggest I do?

She handed me a pair of sharp scissors.

You want me to cut the lining?

No response, so I began to snip the lining of my good leather bag, to find a pair of tweezers stuck inside.

She took the tweezers and threw the bag towards me. I left it there...a rather expensive experience. And by the way, I'd never had a pair of those tweezers...a bit like a surgeon leaving instrumentation inside your body after surgery...