Many a time we wish we could capture the beauty of the destination where we are holidaying and bring it home. To name a few: the houseboats of Kerala, the crystal clear oceans of Maldives, the treehouses of Phuket are some of the magical elements we wish we could pack in our luggage and bring home.
A tourist couple from France who was vacationing at the Sardinian beach in Italy took this thought very seriously. The pristine white beaches are well known around the world for the mesmerizing beauty of the white sand. The couple decided to pack a few bottles of white sand and take them home.
Accordingly, they filled 14 big water bottles with 40 kgs of sand grains, loaded it on their SUV truck trying to smuggle it by ferry to the Toulon I France. As they were trying to sneak out, Italian authorities caught hold of them and they were arrested. They may be put behind the bars for about six years for sand smuggling, reports Telegraph.
The couple has however claimed that they were unaware of the island’s strict rules regarding sand pillaging. The island has been battling for years to stop sand smuggling. The unique soil and pebbles on the beaches are prized as souvenirs and also used for indoor aquariums.
What are your thoughts on the entire incident?