Italian authorities seize crocodile head at Turin Airport

Italian authorities at Turin-Caselle Airport seized a dried crocodile head hidden inside a passenger's luggage. The individual, an Italian citizen, was traveling from Miami via Istanbul.

The specimen, identified as Crocodylia spp, was wrapped in paper in an attempt to evade security inspections. Because the species is protected under the 1973 Washington Convention (CITES), the passenger faces potential criminal charges for illegal importation without the required permits or licenses.

If convicted, the man could face fines ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 euros and a prison sentence of six months to one year. The Guardia di Finanza noted that this seizure is part of a broader crackdown on the illegal wildlife trade. Reports from WWF Italy highlight that the country remains a significant European hub for the illicit trafficking of exotic animals, including reptiles, birds, and mammals.