U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers made a truly bizarre discovery at Tampa International Airport when a routine bag search turned up human remains, including a skull.
"What started as a passenger declaring just 10 cigars at @FlyTPA turned bizarre. 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," Carlos C Martel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection director of field operations for Miami and Tampa, wrote in a post on X last week.
The passenger allegedly claimed the skull and bone fragments were for rituals. Nonetheless, they were confiscated and destroyed.
"The traveler claimed the items were for rituals, but due to serious health risks, the items were seized and destroyed. At @CBP, we never know what baggage may hold, but smugglers should know we’ll always have a bone to pick," Martel joked.
Travelers entering the U.S. with human remains for burial must produce a death certificate and meet all CDC requirements. However, these requirements do not apply to cremated remains.
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