Body parts Discovered in Several Packages Sent from Thailand to United States
Three packages sent from Thailand to the United States were discovered during routine screening to be filled with a multitude of human body parts. The parcel delivery service, DHL, said X-ray scans performed in Bangkok showed items like an infant's head, adult heart and a young child's foot to all be contained in these packages.
The American tourist, who sent the packages, was tracked down by police, who DHL contacted after the startling discovery, said he found the items at a Bangkok night market.
"He said he thought the body parts were bizarre and wanted to send them to his friends in the U.S.," police Col. Chumpol Poompuang said.
The 31-year-old man was questioned by authorities for several hours but eventually released without charges.
Five body pieces were found amongst the three packages, which were labeled as toys. The items were all being sent to Las Vegas, one of which was addressed to the man himself.
Earlier, Chumpol had said it was a baby's heart in the body parts, but police at a news conference later said the heart, which had stabbing marks, belonged to an adult.
Police Lt. Gen. Ruangsak Jarit-ake showed reporters graphic pictures of the body parts, which were separated preserved in formaldehyde in acrylic or plastic containers. Other pieces included portions of tattooed skin, one image of a jumping tiger and another displaying ancient Asian script. The baby's foot had been sliced in three sections.
The quality of preservation and manner in which the parts were dissected appear to be professional quality, leading officials to investigate whether the parts were stolen from a medical institute.
In certain Thai cults, fetuses and spiritual tattoos are believed to give individuals good fortune or protect them from evil.
A British citizen was arrested in 2012 for carrying six roasted fetuses covered in gold leaf after it was revealed that a website offering black magic services was selling infant bodies.
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