An Italian man was detained at Caselle airport in Turin for transporting a crocodile head in his luggage. The individual had arrived from Miami, United States, with a layover in Istanbul, Türkiye, and was returning from holiday. The discovery was made by the Guardia di Finanza during a search of luggage as part of intensified inspections at the airport during the summer, which specifically targeted the trade of protected and endangered species. The operation was joint with the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency and focused on flights considered high risk.
The crocodile head belonged to a species classified as endangered and was dried and wrapped in common wrapping paper, in an attempt to avoid security controls in the country of origin. Crocodiles are protected by the Washington Convention (CITES), an international convention in force since 1975, ratified by more than 180 countries, which prohibits the international trade of animals and plants at risk of extinction.
The man was placed under investigation for suspected importation of a specimen of a protected species without the required certificate or license. Although he was kept free, he had to pay a fine. If convicted, he faces a possible fine of 20,000 to 200,000 euros or a prison sentence of six months to one year.
Italy is considered one of the main transit points in the illegal trade of protected animals, frequently associated with criminal organizations. However, according to The Guardian, quoted in the article, cases like this can sometimes result from carelessness or lack of knowledge by tourists who acquire crocodile heads as holiday souvenirs, without knowing that their sale is prohibited by the international convention.
