Dried Head of Endangered Crocodile Found in Traveler's Luggage at Turin Airport

An Italian man is under investigation for smuggling after the dried head of a critically endangered crocodile was discovered in his luggage at Turin's Caselle airport, according to a statement from the Turin unit of Italy's financial police squad, known as the Guardia di Finanza.

The man had arrived in the northern Italian city on a flight originating in Miami and connecting through Istanbul, police said.

According to the police statement, officers found the dried crocodile head during a luggage inspection at the airport. Authorities have not publicly identified the man or specified the exact species of crocodile involved, though police described it as critically endangered.

The man now faces a substantial financial penalty or a potential prison sentence as part of the ongoing investigation into suspected wildlife smuggling, police said.

International trade in critically endangered species and their parts is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement to which Italy is a signatory. Violations of the treaty's provisions can carry criminal penalties in member states.

Further details about the case, including the specific charges the man may face, have not been disclosed by authorities. The investigation is ongoing, according to the police statement.