Traveler found with suspected human remains at Tampa airport, claims for rituals
Customs officials say remains were seized and destroyed due to health risks; investigation launched by DHS.
A Florida traveler at Tampa International Airport was found with what appeared to be human remains inside a foil-wrapped duffel bag while attempting to declare 10 cigars, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.
CBP said the remains included part of a skull and were discovered by agriculture specialists during a routine inspection. The traveler told staff the items were “for rituals,” according to CBP Director of Field Operations Carlos C. Martel, who posted about the incident on X last week. Officials said the items were seized and destroyed due to serious health risks. The case has been forwarded to the Department of Homeland Security for investigation, and it was not immediately clear where the traveler was traveling to or from or whether they were detained.
The remains and the other items were found as the traveler tried to pass through security with multiple illicit items, including prohibited plants and additional cigars, authorities said. Tampa International Airport officials emphasized that the bones were destroyed to mitigate health risks. The DHS will determine any further legal or enforcement actions.
Florida airports have seen a range of unusual smuggling attempts in recent years. In July, a Florida woman was caught trying to smuggle two turtles through security at Miami International Airport by concealing them in her bra; one of the animals died. In 2023, a woman was stopped at Tampa International after attempting to carry a four-foot boa constrictor in her carry-on, which was revealed by the X-ray machine; she claimed the snake was an emotional support animal. In 2018, another woman was intercepted at Miami International for smuggling a Ball Python wrapped in a nylon stocking inside an electronic device.
Nationwide, the Transportation Security Administration reported 2024 gun confiscations near 6,700, a slight decline from the year before. Florida accounted for about 834 of those firearms, including 135 seized at Tampa International, which ranked high among state airports for firearm seizures.
Despite security incidents, Tampa International remained a high-performing airport in passenger satisfaction in 2025, according to a JD Power study that ranked it second among large airports.