Tourists fined for smuggling Sardinia's beach sand in suitcases

Although the Sardinian authorities have been informing tourists for years about the ban on taking sand, pebbles, and shells from the beach, there remains a steady flow of people attempting to collect such souvenirs. The authorities regularly detain travelers who try to smuggle beach souvenirs from the island.

In recent days, reports indicate that tourists from Italy and Germany were detained at the port in Olbia, from where they were leaving Sardinia by ferry with suitcases full of sand, according to PAP.

German tourists hid "souvenirs" from Sardinia in a camper which they intended to take to Genoa. All the confiscated material was handed over to the customs agency.

With the arrival of the holiday season in Sardinia, the phenomenon of taking sand, shells, and pebbles from the beach intensifies. On the Italian island, this is prohibited and severely punished as theft, with airport and port authorities confiscating these "souvenirs".

In many towns, there are signs informing visitors about the regulations in force in Sardinia since 2017. A broad campaign is also being conducted. However, as noted by the media and environmentalists, it is not entirely effective.

According to established practice, sand, shells, and stones are returned to the beaches. Their exact origin is often determined. This initiative involves an association called Sardinia Plundered and Robbed.

Two years ago, media reported that at the airport in Alghero, customs officers confiscated 10 kg of sand, 7 kg of pebbles, and 5 kg of shells taken from the beaches in the north. Among other things, in the luggage of Polish tourists. All caught attempting to export souvenirs received fines ranging from 738 CAD to 4400 CAD.

According to local authorities, the theft of beach sand leads to its disappearance, which can harm the natural environment. Besides, beaches are the main reason tourists from all over the world visit the island. Tourists treat the stolen sand from Sardinia as a vacation souvenir. Some even put bottles of sand up for auction online.