Custom officials find dolphin skull found in luggage at Detroit airport 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents discovered something fishy inside an unaccompanied suitcase at the Detroit Metropolitan airport last week. 

The bag, which had been separated from its owners, was placed under a routine x-ray screening upon reentry into the United States, revealing a skull-shaped object, according to a press release by the CBP.

Upon further examination, the CBP and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials determined that the skull belonged to a young dolphin. 

Certain fish and wildlife, including products derived from them, are subjected to import and export restrictions and other requirements. The law applies to wild birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, shellfish, mollusks, and their skins, tusks, bones, feathers, or eggs.

“The possession of wildlife items, especially those of protected animals is prohibited,” said Area Port Director Robert Larkin. 

“We take wildlife smuggling seriously and work closely with our federal partners at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect wildlife and their habitats,” he added.

The skull was turned over to the Office of Law Enforcement wildlife inspectors for further investigation. Additional details pertaining to the skull were not immediately available. 

X-rays of baggage at airports have uncovered surprising things inside suitcases in recent months. In December, TSA officials found a small dog inside a carry-on suitcase as it went through the X-ray machine at the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin.

Similarly, in November, TSA officers found a live cat inside a suitcase at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport. The orange cat had made its way into the suitcase while the suitcase’s owner was completely unaware.