Camilla Jessen
The traveler now faces a hefty fine.
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Customs officers at Berlin Brandenburg Airport confiscated a 60 cm long walrus tusk from the luggage of a traveler from Georgia last Saturday.
During a baggage inspection, X-ray images alerted customs officials to the unusual object.
The 24-year-old woman, who had arrived from Tbilisi, had wrapped the tusk in a bedsheet.
As she passed through the green exit designated for goods that do not require registration, she was stopped by officials and asked to undergo inspection.
The tusk, which weighs nearly 2 kilograms, is decorated and comes from a protected species, the walrus (Odobenus rosmarus).
According to a report from the Potsdam Main Customs Office, the woman explained that the tusk was a gift from her father, who lives in Russia. However, she now faces a potential fine of up to 10,000 euros if she cannot provide proof of purchase.
Walrus tusks are subject to international protection, and possession without a permit is prohibited in many countries, including Germany.
Further investigations will determine whether the tusk is private property or an illegal souvenir.
