TRAVELLERS have tried to smuggle about 25 knives, live bullets, fake guns with lasers, handcuffs, scissors, bottle openers and masking tape through Cairns airport in the past two months.

Authorities recently showed the stash of weapons and contraband that have been seized at international and domestic passenger security screening points.

Cairns Ports executive general manager Kayleen Collins said most seizures had been because of accidental passenger walk-throughs.

However, Ms Collins said some passengers chose to blatantly ignore the law.

One disturbing find was a toy gun with a laser, an offence that could bring penalties of jail time for using lasers at airports by both State and Federal governments.

Airport security and emergency service manager Phil Warwick said no guns had been seized in the past six to eight months but said the haul was "typical".

"But fortunately we don’t get many explosives," he said.

"We get lots and lots of pocket knives.

"A lot of this stuff would be OK if it was in their check-in baggage."

Among the two-month stash were kitchen and fishing knives, about 200 pairs of scissors, nail files, lighters, bullets, oil and cleaning products.

Ms Collins said passengers also needed to be aware of new regulations for liquids and gels, where a clear plastic bag must be used for no more than a litre of goods.

She said if people wanted their seized items they could fill out forms to retrieve them.

Cairns airport has three security check points at its domestic terminal and two at the international.

Mr Warwick said most of the knives were donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

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