French customs agents have seized alligator skins, exotic bird feathers and marine animal skulls in three separate cases in recent months, highlighting what they say is a growing issue of protected species trafficking.
Customs agents intercepted nearly 600 pieces of undeclared alligator skin on 24 March at Marseille-Provence airport, en route to Tunisia.
"Used particularly in luxury leather goods for bags, belts and watch straps, alligator skin can fetch several thousand euros on the legal market," explained customs authorities on Thursday in a press release.
Almost 500 bird feathers were then discovered on 2 July at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport in a parcel from Costa Rica bound for Italy.
The vast majority belonged to the macaw, a protected species, and the rest to the resplendent quetzal, a smaller bird with bright green plumage.
"These feathers are praised for their exceptional brilliance and bright colours: red, blue and emerald green. They are used in traditional clothing and luxury plumage, but also in decorative objects and to enrich private collections or cabinets of curiosities," said customs officials.
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On 10 July, customs officers at Fos-Port-Saint-Louis, near Marseille, found the remains of protected marine species in a container from the Kerguelen Islands in Antarctica.
The remains included gorfu and yellow-billed albatross skulls, sea lion skulls and jaws, as well as sperm whale, killer whale and elephant seal teeth.
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'Souvenirs'
According to the investigation, the three individuals responsible for bringing them in had taken them as "souvenirs".
"Skulls and teeth are, however, often sought after for curiosity cabinets," customs officials noted, urging "vigilance" during the summer holiday season.
They added: "A simple souvenir can sometimes violate strict regulations on the protection of wildlife and plants."
(with AFP)
