Suspected human remains found in traveler’s luggage at Florida airport; authorities investigate

Customs and Border Protection said a traveler re-entering the United States at Tampa International Airport was found with suspected human remains wrapped in foil in their luggage. The passenger claimed the items were for rituals and were processed at the CBP station that handles reentry for travelers returning to the United States.

Authorities recovered what appeared to be part of a human skull and several bones, tucked alongside prohibited plants and a stack of cigars. Carlos Martel, CBP's director of field operations in Tampa, said the remains were determined to pose serious health risks and were destroyed after the initial examination, despite the passenger's objections. "At CBP, we never know what baggage may hold, but smugglers should know we’ll always have a bone to pick," Martel wrote on X.

The agency said investigators are probing whether the remains were authentic and that it was unclear if the bones were real.

This incident comes as Tampa International and Florida’s travel network have faced other jarring finds and security challenges. In 2023, a passenger attempted to smuggle a four-foot emotional-support boa constrictor named Bartholomew through security at the same airport. In the first four months of 2024, TSA reported more than 1,500 firearms were confiscated at airports nationwide, with Tampa International among the top ten hubs. Separately, the airport has faced disruptions ranging from faux bomb threats to other troubling discoveries in baggage areas.

Yet the airport has shown some positive trends. In September, Tampa International tied for third-best among large airports in passenger satisfaction, according to traveler feedback cited by regional travel reports.

Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and no charges had been announced as of the latest briefing. Additional details, including the outcome of the authenticity review, were not immediately available.