Latest news with #Dyrosaurusphosphaticus
Morocco World
16-02-2025
- Morocco World
French Customs Intercept Dinosaur Fossils from Morocco in Smuggling Attempt
Rabat – Customs officers in Menton (Alpes-Maritimes) seized nine dinosaur teeth from Morocco in late January. The fossils were hidden in an express freight truck traveling from Spain to Italy, authorities announced on Friday. On the A8 motorway, customs agents inspect these trucks daily. They transport hundreds of parcels between private individuals in Spain and Italy, and officers often uncover drugs such as cannabis and cocaine, explained Samantha Verduron, deputy regional director in Nice. While trained dogs help detect narcotics, officers also open parcels at random. On January 27, they found nine large teeth inside two packages bound for recipients near Genoa and Milan. An expert from the Museum of Regional Prehistory in Menton identified the fossils as remains of prehistoric reptiles that lived in Morocco between 72 and 66 million years ago. The seized items included a Zarafasaura oceanis' tooth, a marine reptile with an exceptionally long neck, three Mosasaurus teeth, a predator known from Jurassic World, and five fossilized teeth believed to belong to Dyrosaurus phosphaticus, an ancestor of the crocodile. French law prohibits the possession, import, or transport of archaeological artifacts without proper documentation. Investigators are now working to trace the intended recipients and determine the next steps. Such discoveries often lead to the repatriation of artifacts to their country of origin. France has returned Moroccan fossils in the past. In 2020, authorities handed over 25,000 artifacts, including fossils, minerals, polished stones, and art objects, that customs officers had seized in 2005 and 2006 during operations in Arles and Perpignan. Many of these items had come from illegal excavations. Tags: dinosaur in MoroccoFossilsFossils in Morocco
Ya Biladi
16-02-2025
- Ya Biladi
French customs seize Moroccan dinosaur fossils
Customs officers in Menton, southern France, made an unexpected discovery: fossilized dinosaur and crocodile teeth originating from Morocco's rich geological deposits, as reported by France Bleu. On January 27, customs agents conducted a routine inspection of a Spanish freight truck heading to Italy. Among the various packages, they found several bags containing fossilized teeth, a find that left the officers astonished. «Our teams are accustomed to intercepting drugs, not fossils millions of years old», remarked Samantha Verduron, communications director for Nice customs. The officers uncovered nine teeth, which were subsequently handed over to Pierre-Elie Moullé, a paleontologist at the Regional Prehistory Museum in Menton. Upon examination, Moullé identified the fossils as hailing from Morocco. The collection included a tooth from Zarafasaura oceanis, a marine plesiosaur, three mosasaur teeth, and five attributed to Dyrosaurus phosphaticus, a prehistoric aquatic reptile. «These fossils come from Morocco, where an illegal trade is organized around these rare pieces, often resold at a high price», the paleontologist explained. Morocco, with its extensive paleontological deposits, particularly in the Khouribga region and the Sahara Desert, is a prime target for traffickers. The illegal trade in cultural goods is estimated to generate between three and six billion dollars annually, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Besides fossils, customs officers frequently intercept antique objects, ancient manuscripts, and statues. An investigation is currently underway to identify the intended recipients of these fossils and to determine the appropriate legal actions in this case.
