Arrest the Violation, Not the Unusual Item

Finding something suspicious does not always justify an arrest. Airport Contraband distinguishes restricted possessions, criminal contraband, and invalid documents, and using the same response for all three creates mistakes. For players asking Airport Contraband how to arrest passengers, the recorded contraband tutorial says to confiscate the contraband, equip the handcuffs, and arrest its owner; an official document-check announcement separately requires arrest for a forged ID.

The handcuff interaction described below comes from prerelease player experience. Follow your installed game's action prompts where its controls differ.

Decide Whether Arrest Is Required

The official ID Scanner announcement makes an important distinction: an expired document means denying entry, while a forged ID means arresting the passenger and handing them to the authorities.

The recorded inspection tutorial makes a similar distinction between objects:

  • Restricted item: confiscate it; the introductory rule does not make possession alone a criminal offense.
  • Contraband: confiscate it and arrest the smuggler when that mechanic is active.
  • Expired ID: deny entry rather than treating expiration as forgery.
  • Forged ID: use the arrest outcome described by the document-check rules.

Check the Item Index when the object's status is uncertain. An odd-looking possession or a restricted tool is not automatically the same thing as criminal contraband.

Complete the Recorded Handcuff Sequence

In the prerelease walkthrough, the contraband tutorial prompts the player to take the illegal object and then select the handcuffs. The recording shows holding Tab to select the cuffs before performing the arrest action on the passenger.

If the passenger is at the body-search station, turn the search lamp off first. The recording repeatedly displays a lamp-off requirement when the player tries to arrest someone while it remains active. That is a useful distinction between the search interaction and the enforcement action.

An arrest can also be prompted directly by a forged-ID result. Use the action offered for that passenger rather than moving on to unrelated luggage checks after the identity violation is already established.

Handle Escape Attempts and Bribe Offers

An arrest does not always proceed quietly. In its October 23 announcement, the developer explains that detained passengers may attempt to run. The documented Taser technique is to aim, hold that aim, and release the left mouse button when the reticle lines up with the fleeing passenger. Charges are limited; the same announcement describes Stay Put as reducing escape attempts and Power Bank as providing extra Taser charges.

An arrest may also trigger a bribe offer. The official October 25 explanation presents two outcomes: refuse the money and continue the arrest, or accept it and allow the passenger to continue, risking airport reputation. A bribe is therefore a choice to abandon that normal enforcement outcome, not an extra payment for completing the arrest.

FAQ

Should I arrest a passenger with an expired ID?

The official scanner rules say to deny entry for expiration. Forgery is the document outcome that calls for arrest.

Why does the game tell me to turn off the lamp?

In the recorded prerelease body-search workflow, the search lamp must be off before the arrest action can continue.

Do all arrests require the Taser?

No. The developer describes the Taser as a response to escape attempts. It is not presented as a mandatory first step for every compliant passenger.