On a highway near the border between France and Italy, French customs officers halted a logistics truck travelling from Spain to Italy. The stop occurred during a routine evaluation when inspectors uncovered a stash of dinosaur teeth that appeared to be illegal to possess or trade. The incident was reported by Phys.org, with AFP cited as the reference for the information, underscoring ongoing efforts to curb the illicit fossil trade crossing European lines. The seizure fits into a broader push by authorities to protect paleontological heritage and ensure that discoveries stay in the hands of institutions that can study them properly. Investigators coordinated with other agencies and international partners to verify authenticity, trace ownership, and establish the chain of custody. The operation illustrates how border controls, customs procedures, and paleontological expertise work in concert to prevent the illegal trafficking of prehistoric remains, and it highlights the persistent risk posed by fossil-smuggling networks that operate across the continent.
