On Twitter (now X), a photo of "luggage" that left airport staff stunned has gone absolutely viral, racking up over 23.2 million views and nearly 140,000 likes in no time. The internet is buzzing about this "smuggling" incident, with many jokingly calling it the "Hokkaido Beer Smuggling Case" after seeing a suitcase packed to the brim with Sapporo beer!
The star of this sudsy saga is X user Geeene (@geeeene_7333) from Sapporo, Hokkaido. Back in 2020, he was prepping for a flight from New Chitose Airport to Tokyo when he handed over his hefty 42-kilogram (that's almost 93 pounds!) suitcase to the airline staff. It wasn't long before airport personnel flagged him down, asking about the suspiciously heavy bag.
The staff, clearly puzzled by the unusually heavy luggage, gathered around him for an inspection. When he unzipped the suitcase, what did they find? A treasure trove of Sapporo Beer's "SAPPORO CLASSIC (500ml)" cans! This particular brew is a Hokkaido-exclusive, and for Geeene, working away from home, bringing a taste of his hometown was a non-negotiable mission.
The airport crew was understandably surprised by this impromptu "smuggling" operation but handled it like pros. Airport regulations cap single luggage at 32 kilograms (about 70.5 pounds), but due to an initial oversight, Geeene's bag had been accepted. After the inspection, the staff, wanting to avoid any back injuries, split the beer into two separate checked bags. And get this – they even offered him a can to enjoy on the spot!
This "smuggling" incident quickly blew up on Twitter, with countless netizens chiming in, "I'd do the same thing, gotta bring some home!" Some even playfully dubbed it "beer smuggling." The post is now nearing 140,000 likes. While a few folks worried about the cans bursting, Geeene confirmed everything arrived safely in Tokyo without a hitch.
Geeene himself later admitted, "I just wanted to push the limits this time; I won't be doing this again in the future." Whether it was a longing for home or just a quirky experiment, his stunt certainly made waves online and became a hilarious anecdote for many.