52 Jurassic period mollusks were attempted to be smuggled from Ukraine disguised as aquarium decorations

Kyiv customs officers have intervened to prevent the illegal shipment of ancient fossils, mollusks dating back 145-149 million years, which hold cultural and scientific value.

As reported in the Telegram channel of the State Customs Service of Ukraine on Tuesday, 52 fossilized creatures were discovered during customs control of an international postal shipment from Zaporizhzhia to Canada. The sender declared them as aquarium decorations.

"To determine the cultural value of the fossils, the finding was sent for examination to the National Museum of Natural History of Ukraine. According to experts, the fossilized creatures are polished mollusks (ammonites), original fossils of various genera that existed during the Jurassic period: Vergatites virgatus (Boch.), Cosmoceras sp., Acantoceras sp., Cardioceras sp., etc. All paleontological specimens have cultural, scientific, museum, and educational value and are recommended by experts for inclusion in the museum fund of Ukraine," the statement said.

The State Customs Service emphasizes that, according to current legislation of Ukraine, the export of cultural valuables abroad requires the appropriate certificate from the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. No such permit was provided to the customs officers. Therefore, the Kyiv customs office has drawn up a protocol under Article 473 of the Customs Code of Ukraine (shipment across the customs border of Ukraine in international postal and express shipments of goods prohibited for such shipment). The paleontological specimens have been confiscated.