An Italian man is facing a potential fine or prison term after border authorities at Turin's Caselle airport seized the dried head of a critically endangered crocodile from his luggage. The Turin unit of Italy's financial police squad stated the man had arrived on a flight from Miami via Istanbul.
The reptile's head was reportedly wrapped in brown paper packaging, an apparent attempt to conceal it from security and customs checks. The passenger, who was reportedly returning from a holiday, has been placed under investigation on allegations of smuggling a specimen belonging to a protected species.
Crocodiles are protected under the Washington Convention, an international agreement established in 1973 to safeguard endangered plants and animals from international trade. Police stated the item was seized because it lacked the required certificate or licence for import.
If convicted, the man could face a fine ranging from €20,000 to €200,000, or a prison sentence of six months to a year. Police indicated that this operation is part of a broader crackdown in Italy on the illegal wildlife trade.