An Italian man is under investigation for allegedly smuggling a crocodile head through airport security after arriving from Miami via Istanbul. The dried and paper-wrapped reptile cranium was discovered by police officials during a baggage check at Sandro Pertini Airport in Caselle Torinese, Turin.
Turin’s Guardia di Finanza stated the man is being investigated for importing a specimen belonging to a protected species without the required certificate or license. If convicted, he could face fines ranging from $23,200 to $232,000 or a prison sentence of six months to one year.
Customs officials have increased baggage checks at the airport during the summer months due to an increase in tourists visiting exotic locations. The discovery has drawn mixed reactions online, with some commenters criticizing the act as a display of human greed and disregard for wildlife, while others noted the contrast between this seizure and the alleged smuggling of more substantial contraband like methamphetamine.