By Tim Binnall
Customs officials at the Dubai International Airport arrested a traveler on suspicion of sorcery after they uncovered a bevy of 'magical' accouterments stashed in his luggage. The bizarre bust reportedly occurred early Tuesday morning when officers inspected the bags of a man arriving from "an African country." Upon opening the luggage, they were surprised to find "a live snake inside a plastic box that was wrapped and hidden." However, the unfortunate reptile was merely the proverbial tip of the supernatural iceberg as the search subsequently yielded an array of truly strange items believed to be used in black magic rituals.
Other curious objects contained in the man's luggage were "the hand of a monkey, a dead bird, eggs wrapped in cotton used in sorcery, spells, talismans, and tools containing scraps of paper." The various odd items were seized and turned over to the country's Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai, which is said to have confirmed that they were intended to be used for sorcery. In a statement regarding the arrest, customs officials decried "the danger of these materials used in acts of magic, quackery, and tampering with people's minds" and credited the bust to rigorous "training and educational courses" provided to their inspectors. The suspected sorcerer now faces a fine of around $13,000 as well as jail time if convicted of engaging in witchcraft.