Imagine arriving back in the US after a trip, only to get stopped at customs with a shocking secret in your luggage. That’s exactly what happened to a traveler at Tampa International Airport in Florida. Officials caught him with what they believe are human bones, wrapped in tinfoil, which he claimed were for some kind of “rituals.”
The passenger honestly declared a few small items at the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) checkpoint—something everyone must do when re-entering the country. But when agents decided to search his bags deeper, they uncovered a real shocker: parts of what looked like a human skull, several bones, a stack of cigars, and even some prohibited plants.
“We never know what baggage may hold, but smugglers should know we’ll always have a bone to pick,” joked Carlos Martel, the airport’s director of field operations, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). CBP quickly determined the suspected human remains posed serious health risks, so they destroyed them—leaving the traveler pretty upset.
Now, authorities are investigating to figure out if these bones were the real deal or not. It’s a bizarre case that’s got everyone talking about airport security and what people try to sneak through customs.
Tampa International Airport isn’t new to these wild discoveries. Back in 2023, a passenger attempted to bring a 4-foot boa constrictor snake named Bartholomew as an “emotional support” animal right through security. And Florida airports have seen their share of drama— in the first four months of 2024 alone, TSA seized over 1,500 firearms nationwide, with Tampa making the top 10 list alongside other busy Florida hubs.
Despite the headlines, good news for travelers: Tampa International tied for third place among large US airports for passenger satisfaction in a recent survey. Still, airport incidents like fake bomb threats or even finding bodies in unexpected spots keep things unpredictable at travel hubs everywhere. Stay vigilant when packing for your next flight!
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