A 69-year-old French tourist was detained on the Italian island of Sardinia for attempting to smuggle 40 kilograms of protected beach sand, stones, and seashells. According to the Blue News portal, customs officers intercepted the woman while she was boarding a ferry bound for Toulon, France, with her illicit cargo.

An investigation revealed that the materials were collected from the Le Saline beach, located in northern Sardinia. Under regional environmental laws, removing natural resources from the coastline is strictly illegal. The tourist now faces a heavy financial penalty ranging from €500 to €3,000, and the seized sand will be integrated back into its original habitat.