I don't know how to verify this, as I heard it on the radio several years ago, and long before 911.

  The band Garbage ran into trouble bringing their instruments into Russia (whether it was via plane, I don't know). At that time, Russia had (has?) a law that one could not import trash across the border (to help keep their dumps from getting overcrowded, I suppose). Of course, Garbage's instruments were clearly labelled, Garbage. Security officials were insulted that the group had so little faith in their English, that they expected the packages to go through. Things did eventually get cleared up, though.