What started as a simple baggage check at Tampa International Airport turned into a chilling discovery when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers uncovered human remains inside a traveler’s luggage.
According to officials, the passenger initially declared only 10 cigars at customs. But during inspection, agriculture specialists flagged the traveler’s bag for possible prohibited items. That’s when officers unwrapped a foil-covered duffel bag containing bones… including part of a human skull.
The passenger reportedly told CBP officers the remains were intended for ritual use. Photos released by CBP show bones, including a skull fragment and vertebrae, wrapped in aluminum foil. Officers wearing gloves carefully examined the items before securing them in evidence bags.
Officials stressed that the bones posed serious public health risks and were immediately destroyed. Carlos C. Martel, CBP’s Director of Field Operations, highlighted the unpredictability of inspections… “At CBP, we never know what baggage may hold… but smugglers should know we’ll always have a bone to pick.”
Authorities have not released details about the passenger’s nationality, identity, or whether charges will be filed. The bizarre incident is a reminder of the strange and sometimes dangerous discoveries made during routine international travel screenings.
