Discovery made during routine inspection
French customs officers uncovered nine dinosaur teeth during a routine check in a Spanish lorry near the Italian border, officials confirmed.
The discovery took place on January 28, when officers inspected a Spanish lorry traveling along the A8 motorway. Upon finding two suspicious parcels, they sent them to a prehistory museum in Menton for further examination.
Fossils traced to Late Cretaceous period
On Friday, experts revealed that the teeth originated from reptiles that lived between 72 and 66 million years ago in Morocco.
Among the specimens, one tooth was identified as belonging to Zarafasaura oceanis, a marine reptile that measured approximately 3 meters (10 feet) in length and was named in Morocco in 2011. Three of the teeth were determined to be from a Mosasaurus, a large aquatic reptile that could grow up to 12 meters in length. The remaining five teeth are believed to have belonged to Dyrosaurus phosphaticus, an ancient relative of crocodiles.
Unexpected find during routine customs checks
Lorries traveling on the A8 motorway between Spain and Italy are frequently stopped for inspections. Customs agents routinely open random parcels, as smuggling of illegal goods—including drugs—is a known issue, said Samantha Verduron, a French customs spokesperson.
However, the discovery of prehistoric fossils was an unusual find.
Investigation into intended recipients
The lorry driver informed officers that he had been delivering the parcels to recipients in the Italian cities of Genoa and Milan. French authorities are now working to determine the identities of the intended recipients.
While fossil collecting is legal, exporting such items often requires a special license. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the shipment was illegal or if any charges will be filed.
