French Authorities Uncover Fossils During Customs Check

Sun Oct 19 2025 23:33:31 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Nine dinosaur teeth, including those from a Mosasaurus, were discovered in a lorry during a routine customs inspection near the Italian border.

French customs officers found nine dinosaur teeth, including those from a Mosasaurus and Zarafasaura, inside a Spanish lorry. The teeth date back to the Late Cretaceous period and are believed to have originated from Morocco. The parcels were being sent to cities in Italy, prompting investigations into their intended recipients.

French customs officials made a fascinating discovery during a routine inspection when they seized nine dinosaur teeth from a Spanish lorry near the Italian border. The event took place on January 28 as customs agents were carrying out checks on the A8 motorway.

While inspecting the vehicle, officers found what appeared to be fossils contained within two parcels. The teeth were subsequently sent to a prehistory museum in Menton for further examination. Experts confirmed that the teeth belonged to ancient reptiles from the Late Cretaceous period, which existed between 72 and 66 million years ago, with origins traced back to Morocco.

Among the unearthed fossils, one tooth was identified as belonging to a Zarafasaura oceanis, a three-meter-long marine reptile that was named in Morocco in 2011. Additionally, three teeth from the large aquatic creature Mosasaurus were found, known for reaching lengths of up to 12 meters. The remaining five teeth are suspected to belong to a Dyrosaurus phosphaticus, a misconception often associated with crocodilians.

The driver of the lorry stated he was transporting the parcels to recipients in the Italian cities of Genoa and Milan, prompting French authorities to work on identifying the intended recipients of the shipments. While possessing fossils is legal, the exportation of such items typically necessitates a license, raising concerns regarding the legality of the shipment.