HIBAPRESS
French Customs at the port of Sète revealed the seizure of a significant shipment of rare smuggled treasures aboard a ship coming from Morocco, in an operation that uncovered the activity of networks exploiting random excavation within the national territory for illegal trade in natural artifacts.
During a routine inspection of a transport ship, customs authorities found about 60 rare pieces hidden inside a truck, including ammonites, trilobites, and a sawfish skeleton, suspected of being extracted from illegal excavations in Morocco, where the value of some of these samples reaches millions of centimes in the European market. The seized items have been impounded for examination to determine their source and value, while investigations continue without immediate action against the drivers. The operation also resulted in the rescue of two endangered turtles that were being transported without the required legal documents. French Customs confirmed that the smuggling of fossils and protected wildlife poses a serious threat to the world's natural heritage and fuels cross-border criminal networks, noting that such operations are not the first of their kind, especially regarding pieces originating from Morocco.
