U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at Tampa International Airport discovered a suspected human skull and bones in a passenger's luggage. The passenger had declared ten cigars, but agriculture specialists found prohibited plants, undeclared cigars, and a foil-wrapped duffel bag containing what appeared to be human remains, including part of a skull.
The passenger claimed the items were for 'rituals,' but CBP did not specify the nature of these rituals. It remains unclear whether the passenger faces charges. The remains were seized and destroyed due to serious health risks.
Traveling with human remains requires strict adherence to regulations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, non-cremated remains must be in a leak-proof container, and a death certificate is typically required. Importing clean, dry bones may not require a permit unless used for purposes other than burial or cremation.
CBP Director of Field Operations Carlos C. Martel commented, 'At @CBP, we never know what baggage may hold, but smugglers should know we’ll always have a bone to pick.'
