Bones, including portion of a skull, found in duffel bag at TPA: CBP

Bones found inside carry-on bag at TPA

A traveler at Tampa International Airport is accused of having what looked like human remains, including a portion of a skull, inside a duffel bag. Aaron Mesmer reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - A traveler at Tampa International Airport is accused of having what looked like human remains, including a portion of a skull, inside a duffel bag.

What we know:

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations Carlos C. Martel, CPB agriculture specialists uncovered prohibited plants, undeclared cigars and a foil-wrapped duffel bag containing the bones among the traveler’s items.

READ: Tampa International Airport donates unclaimed luggage to Hillsborough's 'Duffels of Dignity' program

Courtesy: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

What they're saying:

In a post on social media, Martel shared that the traveler claimed the items were for rituals, but due to serious health risks, the items were seized and destroyed.

"At CBP, we never know what baggage may hold, but smugglers should know we’ll always have a bone to pick," Martel's post stated. 

What we don't know:

It is unclear where the traveler was going or coming from.

The case has been handed over to the Department of Homeland Security. A spokesperson for DHS called this an "ongoing investigation" and declined to say where the traveler was going or coming from. It’s also unclear whether the passenger was detained.

The spokesperson also wouldn’t confirm whether the bones were actually destroyed, as Martel’s post indicated.