U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized a human brain in an international mail truck that crossed the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron last week.
CBP officers referred a Canadian mail truck that had just crossed the Blue Water Bridge for an inspection at the Centralized Examination Station, in Marysville Feb. 14, according to a press release.
During this routine mail operation, a shipment manifested as an “Antique Teaching Specimen” was targeted for inspection. Upon opening the shipment, officers found the package to contain a human brain specimen inside of a clear glass mason jar without any paperwork or documentation in support of its lawful entry into the United States, officials said.
The shipment originated in Toronto, Canada and was destined for Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Kris Grogan, CBP public affairs officer, said he couldn’t release any information regarding the sender or intended recipient.
“Individuals looking to import shipments such as this, need to remember that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has a strict Import Permit Program that must be adhered to,” Port Director Michael Fox said in a statement. “This is just another great example of just one of the many things CBP officers do to protect our nation on a daily basis.”
CBP Agriculture Specialists in Port Huron are currently in contact with the CDC regarding the brain specimen pursuant to 42 CFR 71.54, import regulations for infectious biological agents, infectious substances, and vectors for final disposition of the specimen, according to the news release.
The brain isn’t the first oddity seized from the Blue Water Bridge.
CBP officers seized ancient Egyptian mummy linens during enforcement operations at the Blue Water Bridge in May 25.
The seized artifacts are believed to be from the Ptolemaic Dynasty 305-30 BC and the importer was unable to prove that the artifacts were removed from Egypt prior to April 2016, which is in violation of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act.
“We always get some interesting things up here for sure,” Grogan said.
