Do you know that all the natural resources of Italy are under protective custody of its Government ? Without permission, picking anything from here can be considered as a legal offence of having stolen an asset of public utility.
And this is punishable under Italian law.
Recently a similar situation happened in Italy’s Sardinia beach where a French couple were caught with nearly 40kg (90lb) of fine white sand in the boot of their car during a routine check by border police.
They collected the sand from a beach near Chia in southern Sardinia in 14 large plastic bottles.
Taking this as an offense of stealing public property, the couple has to face six years of imprisonment now.
The duo were about to board a ferry from Porto Torres to Toulon, France, when police took them under custody.
However, they told police that they actually were not aware of the fact, what they were doing is a forbidden practice in Italy. They didn’t have any idea that they were committing an offence.
For a public cognizance, in Sardinia island authorities are instructed to tend its sand, shells and pebbles, which are purposefully stored to be prized as souvenirs or in some cases, for indoor aquariums.
