French customs officers recently made an astonishing discovery during a routine inspection of a Spanish lorry on the A8 motorway, close to the Italian border. On January 28, they unearthed nine dinosaur teeth that were included in two parcels. The officers promptly sent the items for examination at a prehistory museum located in Menton, where experts identified the fossils.
According to authorities, these teeth originated from reptiles that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 72 to 66 million years ago, in present-day Morocco. French customs frequently intercept lorries on the A8, as it is known for transportations that sometimes include illegal drugs. Customs agent Samantha Verduron highlighted the unexpected nature of this recent find.
Among the seized teeth, one was identified as being from a Zarafasaura oceanis, a marine reptile that can reach lengths of around 3 meters (approximately 10 feet) and was named after discoveries in Morocco in 2011. In addition, three of the teeth belonged to the notorious Mosasaurus—an impressive aquatic predator measuring up to 12 meters in length. The remaining five teeth are thought to be from a Dyrosaurus phosphaticus, which is an ancestor of modern crocodiles.
The lorry driver explained that the parcels were destined for recipients in the Italian cities of Genoa and Milan. Authorities are currently investigating who intended to receive these valuable items. While the collection of fossils is legal, the exportation of such items often necessitates a license, a detail that may complicate matters for those involved.
