Travelers at a Florida airport raised eyebrows recently when customs officials found what appeared to be human bones wrapped in aluminum foil, allegedly intended for “rituals.”
Passengers presented a quirky assortment of items to customs and border patrol at Tampa International Airport.
Authorities thoroughly inspected their luggage, revealing actual skeletons hidden inside.
Among the oddities discovered were cigars, with Carlos Martell, the airport’s field operations director, noting that human skulls and various bones were stored alongside “banned plants.”
The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) deemed these items a “serious health risk,” causing considerable dismay among travelers.
“At @CBP, we can’t predict what oddities a package may contain, but smugglers ought to recognize that bones are not a wise choice,” Martell mentioned on social media.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the authenticity of the remains found.
Tampa International, like other airports in the Sunshine State, has seen its share of unsettling discoveries.
This year, one passenger tried to sneak a four-foot “emotional support” boa constrictor named Bartholomew through security.
Additionally, over 1,500 firearms were confiscated by the TSA at airports nationwide in the first four months of 2024, with Tampa International ranking among the top ten alongside two other major Florida airports.
Despite these incidents, Tampa International seems to be making strides; it was ranked third in passenger satisfaction among large airports in September.
Other alarming occurrences have even revealed unsettling finds in places like baggage claims, including threats of fake bombs from disgruntled passengers.
