Florida Airport: Human Remains Found in Luggage, Passenger Claims Ritual Use

TAMPA, Fla. – A routine baggage check at Tampa International Airport took a bizarre and grim turn when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered a foil-wrapped bundle of human bones, including part of a skull, inside a traveler’s luggage.

A passenger carrying human remains, declared as only 10 cigars, led to a startling revelation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found human bones, including part of a skull, in luggage at Tampa International Airport.
• The passenger claimed the remains were for ritual use.
• The bones were seized and destroyed due to health risks.
• Transportation of human remains into the U.S. is subject to strict CDC regulations.

The discovery was made Thursday after agriculture specialists flagged a traveler’s belongings for undeclared cigars and othre items. Inside a duffel bag, officers found the human remains, according to CBP Director of Field Operations Carlos C.Martel.

When questioned, the passenger stated the remains were intended for ritualistic purposes. CBP officials noted that the bones posed serious health risks and subsequently destroyed them.

U.S. Customs officers at Tampa International Airport discovered bones, including part of a skull, in a passenger’s luggage after he declared only cigars.
CBP

CDC regulations govern transport of human remains

The centers for disease Control and Prevention (CDC) enforces strict guidelines for bringing human remains into the United States. These rules vary depending on whether the remains are embalmed, cremated, or if the death was due to an infectious disease.

Typically, a death certificate detailing the cause of death, along with official export and import clearances, must accompany the remains. For U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents dying abroad, the next of kin should contact the U.S.State Department for consular assistance.

Federal regulations mandate that non-cremated remains be transported in leak-proof containers to prevent the potential spread of pathogens. Public health agencies caution that even without an infectious disease listed as the cause of death,body fluids can pose risks.

Clean, dry bones, cremated remains, and embalmed bodies can generally be imported without a permit. However, remains from individuals who died from infectious diseases, if not embalmed or cremated, face more stringent requirements and may necessitate a CDC import permit.

Did you know? The CDC requires specific documentation for importing human remains, depending on their condition and the cause of death.

Other images showed officers wearing gloves and inspecting luggage on a table, with the seized items laid out in evidence bags.
CBP