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NEED TO KNOW
- Officials at Tampa International Airport in Florida found suspected human remains in a passenger’s luggage
- The bones and “part of a skull” were seized and destroyed “due to serious health risks”
- According to officials, the passenger alleged they were carrying the items “for rituals”
A suspected human skull and bones were discovered in a passenger’s luggage at an airport in Florida.
The remains were found wrapped in foil during a routine baggage check at Tampa International Airport (TPA), the Director of Field Operations, Carlos C. Martel, revealed in an X post on Thursday, Sept. 18.
“What started as a passenger declaring just 10 cigars at @FlyTPA turned bizarre,” Martel wrote on X. “CBP Agriculture Specialists uncovered prohibited plants, undeclared cigars, and a foil-wrapped duffel bag containing what looked like human remains, including part of a skull.”
According to authorities, the unidentified passenger claimed that they’d brought along the items to use “for rituals.”
“Due to serious health risks, the items were seized and destroyed,” said Martel.
Director of Field Operations Carlos C. Martel/X
Photos of the discovery released by Martel show the top part of what appears to be a human skull and several bones that had been wrapped in foil. A customs officer is seen inspecting the remains on a table.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a passenger traveling with human remains must provide a death certificate. They may also require a CDC import permit if the remains are “imported for any purpose other than burial, entombment or cremation.”
“All non-cremated remains must be fully contained within a leak-proof container that is packaged and shipped in accordance with all applicable legal requirements. This requirement does not apply to cremated remains, clean and dry bones…” the CDC stated on its website.
“The requirement for leak-proof containers is based on medical infection prevention and control practices (i.e., Standard Precautions) to prevent exposure to blood and other body fluids,” the CDC added.
Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty
“At @CBP, we never know what baggage may hold, but smugglers should know we’ll always have a bone to pick,” Martel added on X.
No details have been shared on whether the passenger will be charged.
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PEOPLE has contacted the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and TPA for comment.