The passenger arrived in New Orleans from Honduras
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Ag Specialists discovered human body parts in a passenger’s luggage.
On Aug. 2, a passenger arriving at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, La., from Honduras had their bags undergo a secondary inspection.
During this inspection, the ag specialists discovered a human umbilical cord and a medical wristband.
When questioned about the findings, the passenger abandoned the items, which were then incinerated.
This is the second such finding in a few months.
In June, another passenger arriving in New Orleans from Honduras was found to have an umbilical cord and a positive pregnancy test belonging to a relative.
“With the vast number of daily travelers, our officers are guaranteed to encounter some unusual items,” Mark Choina, acting area port director of New Orleans, said in a statement. “However, two umbilical cords, a month apart, coming from the same country is noteworthy. This seizure highlights the importance of knowing what is in your bag, and if you can legally import it, especially if you are transporting it for someone else.”
Traditions do exist where the umbilical cord is a focal point.
The tradition states burying it next to seeds may help the children thrive along the plants.
CBP ag inspectors have intercepted multiple shipments in 2022 that could’ve posed potential threats to the U.S. ag sector.
In March, ag specialists at the International Mail Facility at O’Hare International Airport found packages containing live moss bathmats.
In May, inspectors in Texas discovered a Cochabamba sp. beetle. This insect belongs to the leaf beetle family, which also includes southern corn leaf beetles and bean leaf beetles.
In June, ag inspectors at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility in San Diego found three mealybugs, which can damage crops and act as a vector for plant diseases.
Then, in July, ag specialists at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport discovered live lepidoptera larvae and chrysanthemum white rust on shipments of flowers.