On Tuesday August 2, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agriculture Specialists at the Louis Armstrong International Airport discovered an umbilical cord of a human in the baggage of a passenger.
The passenger landed on Spirit flight 1439 in Honduras and was referred for another inspection. CBP Agriculture Specialists found a human umbilical cord when they inspected the luggage. CBP Agriculture Specialists in Houston called the Center for Disease Control (CDC). They stated that the umbilical cord and medical wristband with them could be either abandoned or detained. It was stated that the item was owned by someone close to them. The objects were then thrown out and incinerated.
This is not the first time this kind of unusual object being found. On June 28, a person on the same recurring flight to Honduras was referred to secondary examination. X-rays revealed an item packed in the middle of t-shirts sealed in cellophane. Examining the t-shirts further revealed a small bag containing clothing, documents and a pregnancy test that was positive, and an unknown tissue sample. The man was quizzed about the items and initially was not sure what they were before ultimately declaring them as a human umbilical cord and positive pregnancy test taken by the family member.
“With so many daily travelers our staff will run into several unique things,” stated Mark Choina (Acting Area Port Director for New Orleans). It’s interesting that two umbilical cords from the same country were discovered, only a month apart. This incident emphasizes the importance of knowing what is in your bag, and whether you are able to legally import it, especially in the case of shipping it to another person.”
Certain biological substances that are to be brought into the U.S. require certification or issued a permit by the CDC. Find out whether you need an import license.
On a Typical Day in the fiscal year 2021, CBP discovered 264 pests at U.S. ports of entry. They also found 2,548 substances to be quarantined, including plant meat, animal byproducts and soil.
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