A local DHL depot discovers three parcels with the remains of an infant and a pierced heart. Two Americans were trying to ship the items to some friends as a "joke". After they were questioned, the two were released and are now thought to be in Cambodia. Police now believe the items were stolen, and want to arrest the men.

Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Thai police say they are seeking two US citizens over the suspected theft of body parts - including a baby's head and an adult's heart - from a hospital.

The suspects were initially detained last Saturday afternoon, after staff at the DHL depot discovered three parcels with human remains bound for the United States.

The men were freed after saying they had bought the items at a market to give to friends as a joke.

Thai authorities now believe the fugitives to be in neighbouring Cambodia.

According to Deputy National Police Chief Ruangsak Jaritake, the body parts were "stolen from one of the big hospitals" in Bangkok's Thonburi neighbourhood.

"It is a famous hospital," he said. "But we are still looking for clearer evidence."

Police named one of the Americans as controversial video maker Ryan McPherson, notorious for making violent exploitative videos a decade ago about homeless men.

One of the macabre parcels reportedly had a baby's head, a baby's foot sliced into three parts, an adult heart with a stab wound, and pieces of adult human skin with tattoos.

The items were in five plastic containers filled with preserving fluid, packed into three packages.

Police told media they had to release the men, as they had no grounds to prosecute them.

• thailand
• united
• states
• body
• parts
• dhl
• depot