U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized animal parts, blood and soil from one suitcase at Washington Dulles International Airport this month.
CBP spokesman Steve Sapp said Thursday that the items were taken Dec. 3 from a 59-year-old male passenger from Ghana who said the items were used for spiritual purposes. The man’s name was not released because he has not been charged with a crime.
The suitcase contained two elephant tails, bloody sheets, chicken feathers, chicken blood, a dried hedgehog, two dried chameleons, grass and a jug filled with soil, herbs and blood.
Most items were seized and incinerated, CBP officials said. The elephant tails were turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The passenger had declared to CBP only that he was carrying dried herbs and clothing.
