Customs officials seize dried crocodile head at Turin Airport

Customs officials at Turin-Caselle Airport in Italy discovered a dried crocodile head wrapped in packing paper inside the luggage of an Italian passenger arriving from Miami via Istanbul.

The specimen belongs to a species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The passenger has been reported to law enforcement for allegedly importing the item without the necessary documentation or licenses.

Under Italian regulations, importing protected wildlife specimens without proper certification can result in significant penalties, including fines ranging from €20,000 to €200,000 or imprisonment for six months to one year.