Skull-trafficking ring busted

Eight individuals in Libreville, Gabon, West Africa, were busted for stealing human skulls and femurs from cemeteries for resale to healers. Each skull sold for approximately $620. From the Associated Press:

"People placed orders with me. Then I went to get them," (ringleader Jean Martin) Moussavou said...

The skulls were then ground down into a powder that healers use in various drinks and amulets believed to give the wearer strength or power, he said. Moussavou added that he sold many skulls for use in a common initiation rite, known as Bwiti, in which young men and women drink a potion that is expected to bring on visions.

In Gabon, the knowledge that human bones are used in the potion was nearly as shocking to many as the news of the graverobbing operation.

"I was initiated by Bwiti. I'm scared that I ate a person's body," said Jeanne Mba, a middle-aged housewife in Libreville.

Skull thieves (AP)

• [Kibble]

  Are you suggesting that Monster cables are made out of human remains?

• [Takuan]

  that and coat hangers

• [Hal]

  So if a skull is worth $620 in Gabon how much is a skull worth in the US?
  It seems such a waste to be boxed up and buried.

• [MarlboroTestMonkey7]

  Gone wrong Indiana Jones viral

• [minamisan]

  damn, why did they have to bust them now? i placed my order with them months ago and still no skull. i had the most awesome bong planned…

• [OM]

  …Gah. All this Vicodin, Soma, Gabapentin, Liprinosil, Regolin, Ambien, Lantis and Novolog have finally exacted their toll on me and “Stumpy”. When I first read that headline, I could have *SWORN* it said “Skull-Fucking Ring Busted”.

  I really should switch back to the Dr. Pepper and Black Cherry Cruzan Rum…:-(

• [mdhatter]

  they said it was talc.

• [Takuan]

  Om; try pot

• [mdhatter]

  #10 – I think you have that backwards.

• [Gary61]

  Gives the phrase:
  “Give me some head”

  a whole new meaning, don’t it?

• [Yeti Dad]

  “In Gabon, the knowledge that human bones are used in the potion was nearly as shocking to many as the news of the graverobbing operation.”

  Just “nearly as shocking”? Really?

• [buddy66]

  @#8,

  “Dr. Pepper and Black Cherry Cruzan Rum.”

  Really? I’m going to the little store on the corner….

• [OM]

  “Dr. Pepper and Black Cherry Cruzan Rum.”

  Really? I’m going to the little store on the corner….”

  …It actually mixes *REALLY smoothly together in a 1:5 mix, although some prefer a 1:4 mix depending on how quickly they want that buzz.

  “Om; try pot”

  ..Can’t. Allergies, alas.

• [Munkcy]

  They say the Bwiti potion varies from person to person…

• [Jaap Weel]

  The quote insinuates somewhat incredulously that the Bwiti use a potion containing skulls that is “expected” to bring on visions. I doubt, indeed, that ground skull would bring on visions. But Bwiti initiation potions do also contain Iboga, which most definitely is a strong hallucinogen. I have no idea if they stick the skulls in the same potion as the Iboga.

• [cory]

  For me the truly bizarre thing is that they used the human bits but buyers didn’t know. Not because it’s so “shocking”, but because it’s completely frickin’ backwards.

  Buyers are supposed to be buying these things because they believe they work, a belief that would only be reinforced by the knowledge that they were made out of human body parts. And the manufacturer is supposed to exaggerate the power of the components of the potion, right?

  This would be like if Monster cables were actually made out of solid platinum or whatever the hell they try to tell you they’re made out of these days, but then they charged $10 for them and didn’t tell you about the platinum.

• [Takuan]

  this should be encouraged so the ignorant leave animals alone

• [Shirakhan]

  Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!