Tampa Airport Incident: Discovery of Human Bones in Luggage
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Tampa International Airport discovered human bones in a traveler’s luggage, as reported by NBC News. The passenger claimed the remains, including a skull part wrapped in foil, were for rituals. Initially, the traveler had declared ten cigars, but CBP officers found prohibited plants and eventually the human remains.
Seizure and Destruction of Remains
CBP Director of Field Operations, Carlos C. Martel, stated that upon discovering the remains, they were seized and destroyed due to health risks. Photos shared displayed a skull and small bones covered in aluminum foil. Additionally, prohibited plants were found, although specifics were not provided. Martel humorously noted on social media, “At @CBP, we never know what baggage may hold, but smugglers should know we’ll always have a bone to pick.”
Regulations on Transporting Human Remains
- Carrying human remains requires a death certificate as per CDC requirements.
- If not in English, certificates must have an English translation.
- A consular mortuary certificate can substitute a death certificate under certain conditions.
- Within the U.S., cremated remains must be in a TSA-approved temporary container of wood, plastic, cardboard, or non-lead ceramic.
- Human remains with coffins and flowers are duty-exempt, but flowers may require APHIS inspection.
Frequency of Similar Incidents
Such incidents are rare but not unheard of. A notable event occurred when Mexican authorities found four human skulls in a package at Querétaro Intercontinental Airport in 2023. This was during an operation by Mexico’s National Guard to identify potential threats using X-ray scanners, which revealed the package containing skulls wrapped in plastic and foil, en route from Michoacán to South Carolina without paperwork.
