Authorities at Turin International Airport discovered a dried crocodile head wrapped in ordinary packing paper in the luggage of a man who arrived from Miami, USA, via Istanbul, Turkey.
According to a statement from the Financial Guard of the Provincial Command of Turin, a thorough inspection of the Italian citizen's baggage revealed the head of a crocodile species, 'Crocodylia spp,' which is classified as endangered and protected by the Washington Convention (CITES).
In the same report, without specifying the time of the incident, authorities added that the reptile's head had been dried and wrapped in common packing paper to evade checks in the country of origin.
The material was confiscated, and the passenger was issued a warrant for his arrest without detention for importing an specimen of a protected species without the necessary certificates or licenses, violating the provisions of Law No. 150 of February 7, 1992, aimed at preserving its integrity.
The man could face a fine ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 euros or imprisonment for six months to one year. However, authorities emphasized that the principle of presumption of innocence applies until a final court decision is made.
The operation was conducted in cooperation with employees of the Customs and Monopoly Agency, who have increased control during the summer period due to the higher flow of passengers from so-called 'exotic' destinations.
The official statement notes that the result achieved confirms the interdepartmental synergy established in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Financial Guard and the Customs and Monopoly Agency, whose goal is to strengthen operational cooperation at airport facilities.