Italy: Tourist fined $5,000 for stealing... beach sand.

On June 5th, authorities in Sardinia fined 41 people nearly $5,000 (approximately 115 million VND) for stealing sand, seashells, and rocks from the beach. Police confiscated over 100 kg of sand from the offenders. The theft was discovered when the individuals attempted to leave the island by plane or ship. The stolen sand will be returned to the beach when conditions permit.

Since 2017, the government has enacted a law making it illegal to take sand from Sardinia's beaches. The law was introduced to prevent the negative impact of tourists stealing sand and seashells when visiting this Mediterranean island.

Earlier in September 2020, a French tourist was fined $1,200 (approximately 27.8 million VND) for taking sand from this island.

Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, is an autonomous region of Italy. The island's idyllic white sand beaches are strictly protected, and any tourist found removing sand from the beach faces fines of up to $3,550 (approximately 82.3 million VND), or even imprisonment.

Reportedly, sand thieves often target areas of the beach with unusually colored sand, such as pink or fine white. Consequently, control measures have become "much stricter" in recent times on the island. Local residents and tourists are encouraged to contact authorities if they see anyone illegally taking sand.

Bo Di