A couple of French tourists, on holiday in Sardinia, Italy, were arrested for carrying sand back from their holidays, the Italian daily Corriere della sera (Italian) reported on Friday (August 16th).
He was carrying 40 kg when Italian customs and financial police found the loot in their car. The two Frenchmen were preparing to board a ferry from the island to reach Toulon.
Prison sentences ranging from one to six years in prison
The couple justified it by saying that it was a "souvenir" of vacation and that they did not intend to commit an offense.
Punished by sentences ranging from one to six years in prison, it is strictly forbidden to recover this sand considered as a public good. It is common that tourists bring home sand, shells, or pebbles, which are sometimes the subject of an illegal trade on the internet.
The French environment code also prohibits this practice. The gleaning of sand can be punished with a fine up to 1 500 euros.