Suspected human remains used for ‘rituals’ found in traveler’s luggage at Florida airport
The remains were packed alongside illicit plants and a stack of cigars. Director of Field Operations
A traveler passing through Tampa International Airport raised red flags with customs officials after they were found carrying what appeared to be human bones—wrapped in tinfoil and allegedly intended for use in “rituals.”
The individual declared a small collection of items at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) checkpoint, which all passengers must go through when reentering the country. Upon further inspection, however, CBP officers discovered a disturbing surprise: part of a human skull and several bones tucked inside the traveler’s luggage.
The remains were found alongside cigars and banned plant materials, according to Carlos Martel, CBP’s Director of Field Operations at the airport. Officials deemed the bones a “serious health risk” and promptly destroyed them, despite the traveler’s objections.
“At @CBP, we never know what baggage may hold, but smugglers should know we’ll always have a bone to pick,” Martel quipped on X (formerly Twitter).
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether the bones are genuine human remains and to assess any potential criminal activity.
Tampa International has seen its fair share of strange incidents. In 2023, a passenger attempted to bring a 4-foot-long “emotional support” boa constrictor named Bartholomew through airport security. And in just the first four months of 2024, over 1,500 firearms were confiscated at U.S. airports, with Tampa among the top 10 for most incidents.
Despite these odd events, the airport has received praise for improving passenger experience—tying for third place among large airports in a recent customer satisfaction survey.
Still, this latest case serves as a reminder that when it comes to airport security, even the most bizarre discoveries are possible—from fake bomb threats to bodies found in baggage claim.
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