By ,
Published January 13, 2015
Security officials seized dozens of animal body parts -- including elephant tails and dried hedgehogs -- from a passenger's suitcase at Washington Dulles International Airport, the Washington Examiner reports.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reportedly said Thursday that the animal parts were taken from a 59-year-old man who was traveling from Ghana to Maryland on December 3.
The man, who was also carrying chicken blood and two dried chameleons, told officials that the items were to be used for spiritual purposes, according to the website.
The 59-year-old man, whom officials did not publicly identify, was reportedly not charged with a crime.
"This is by far one of the strangest suitcases we've ever opened," Christopher Hess, CBP port director for Washington, told the website.
"Regardless of its intended purpose, each item posed potentially severe animal and plant disease threats to American agriculture," Hess reportedly said.
Click here to read more on this story from the Washington Examiner
https://www.foxnews.com/us/officials-seize-animal-body-parts-blood-from-passenger-suitcase-at-dulles-airport