Article content

The British Government has launched an investigation after Sri Lankan authorities said they would send back more than a hundred shipping containers which appeared to contain human remains disguised as recyclable metals.

Officials at the port of Colombo made the grisly discovery while investigating a strong smell emanating from 111 containers which have been arriving at the docks over the past two years.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Sri Lankan police find human remains in more than 100 recycling containers from U.K. Back to video

Inside the crates, customs officials found the “extremely hazardous” materials mixed in with mattresses, plastics and clinical waste.

Photo by Sri Lankan Customs / AFP/Getty Images - handout

The U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reports that human organs and body parts were inside the container, but said it was yet to be approached by the Sri Lankan authorities.

“We are committed to tackling illegal waste exports, which is why individuals found to be exporting incorrectly described waste can face a two-year jail term or an unlimited fine,” a spokesman said.