Re:Ok to carry drugs now? (Score 1)

In a word, no.

The directive means they can't go looking for evidence of crimes that are not primary in their mission. If, during the course of their search to make sure you're not carrying contraband onto an airplane (ie, dangerous shit like knitting needles) they find prima facie evidence of a crime (your coke, a severed head, "interesting" pictures involving a horse), they'll turn you over to local law enforcement.

All this means is that they're limited to investigating air safety. Unless they stumble across something that is clearly illegal (and $4300 cash is NOT that), they cannot do anything. Even if they do find something interesting, they cannot detain you, as they are not law enforcement. Those two things are what the ACLU fought for here. Even though they're a bunch of data-profiling dickwads (and that was why I stopped my sponsorship of them), they do get it right now and then.