Unusual seizure for the Guardia di Finanza of Palermo: there are 17 very ancient fossil finds, of inestimable scientific and historical value, found by the police as part of an operation against the illicit trafficking of cultural goods. Even among these a dinosaur claw dating back to the Mesozoic era and ancient marine molluscs that went extinct over 50 million years ago.
The soldiers of the Palermo Punta Raisi Company intercepted some parcels coming from abroad, deemed suspicious due to the mode of transport, characteristics and attached documentation. After recovery, the finds were analyzed by paleontologists from GG Gemmellaro Geological Museum of the University of Palermo, which confirmed its authenticity, provenance and cultural relevance. The material, imported from Spain without the documents required by European legislation, was therefore entrusted to judicial custody at the same museum, where it will be exhibited to the public.
As the police remind us, the legislation requires, in fact, a declaration from the importer or an import license to be presented to the customs authorities.
The ancient finds discovered
What the Guardia di Finanza agents found was incredible. Among the fossils seized are:
Up to 6 years in prison for those who commit these crimes
The Italian legislation on crimes against cultural heritage provides for severe consequences also on a criminal level. In particular, anyone who takes possession of cultural assets belonging to the State and found through unauthorized searches risks imprisonment from two to six months and a fine of 927 to 1,500 euros.
The importation of cultural goods originating from a crime, or discovered through research carried out without authorisation, is punished even more seriously: imprisonment from two to six years and a fine from 258 to 5,165 euros.
