A Florida traveler caught with suspected human remains told airport staff they were for ‘rituals’, border officials said.
The horrifying discovery was made at Tampa International Airport as the passenger was declaring 10 cigars.
Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists said they recovered what appeared to be human remains, including part of a skull inside a foil-wrapped duffel bag.
They also uncovered a host of illicit items including prohibited plants, even more cigars and a foil-wrapped duffel bag.
When questioned, the traveler said the remains were ‘for rituals’ according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations Carlos C. Martel, who posted about the strange discovery last week on X.
He said the items were ‘seized and destroyed’ due to ‘serious health risks.’
Martel also took the opportunity to quip about the situation, saying: ‘we never know what baggage may hold, but smugglers should know we’ll always have a bone to pick.’
It is unclear where the traveler was going to or coming from or whether they were detained. The case has been handed over to the Department of Homeland Security for investigation.
What appeared to be human remains, including part of a skull, were discovered by airport officials when a passenger tried taking them through customs
The traveler was carrying multiple illicit items including cigars, prohibited plants and a foil-wrapped duffel bag which contained what appeared to be human remains
Florida airports are no strangers to bizarre smuggling attempts.
In July, a Florida woman attempted to smuggle two turtles through security at Miami International Airport by hiding them inside her bra. One of the turtles sadly did not survive.
In 2023, a woman was caught trying to smuggle a four-foot boa constrictor in her carry-on at Tampa International Airport.
The snake was discovered when she passed her bag through the X-ray machine, and she told the TSA that it was an ’emotional support pet.’
In 2018, another woman was caught trying to smuggle a Ball Python through security at Miami International Airport by wrapping it in a nylon stocking and hiding it inside of an electronic device.
Over the course of 2024, the TSA confiscated almost 6,700 guns at security checkpoints, which was a slight decrease from the year before.
The traveler said the remains were meant to be used ‘for rituals,’ but a Customs and Border Protection official said they destroyed the bones due to health risks
Tampa International Airport and other airports in Florida have experienced many strange smuggling attempts
A total of 834 of those guns were confiscated in Florida, and of those, 135 came from Tampa International Airport.
The airport had the second highest number of firearm confiscations in the state.
In 2024, Tampa International was in the TSA’s top 10 list of nationwide passengers bringing guns to airport security checkpoints.
Two other Florida airports, Orlando International and Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International, also made the list.
Despite these statistics, a 2025 study from JD Power ranked Tampa International second in passenger satisfaction among large airports.
