THESE Strange Laws Abroad That Can Get You Locked Up!

Due to cultural differences and varying national laws, it’s possible to engage in illegal activities during international travel inadvertently. Let’s explore some specifics that travelers should verify before their trips.

Daily Mail

Turkey is particularly strict about preserving its historical artifacts. Even taking a single stone from an archaeological site is prohibited. This is because these stones could potentially be priceless ancient relics. Violating this can result in up to 10 years of imprisonment.

A tourist was imprisoned in Turkey after trying to return home from a vacation. At that time, customs officials discovered the stone his son had picked up as a souvenir during the trip. The father was imprisoned for four weeks because of the stone his son had stolen.

Therefore, it’s important to be cautious in Turkey, as even taking a single stone as a souvenir could result in a prison sentence.

news.sky

Turkey is not the only country with strict regulations; Germany prohibits the import of potatoes. During travel around Europe, you cannot buy potatoes cheaply in other countries and bring them into Germany due to concerns about the spread of Potato Ring Rot.

Ring Rot first appeared in Germany in 1905 and is caused by Corynebacterium. It typically spreads during the cutting and planting of seed potatoes. Affected potatoes in a field must be discarded entirely.

eBay

China has banned the export of all coins minted before 1949. These coins, considered symbols of luck in China, cannot be casually taken out of the country. They are also prohibited from being sold as decorative items. Similarly, Turkey prohibits the export of ancient coins. Both countries can impose fines if coin smuggling is detected.

BBC

Sardinia, the second-largest island in Italy, is facing challenges due to sand thieves. A French couple was caught attempting to take 40 kg of sand from the island’s white beaches. They claimed they had collected the sand as a souvenir and were unaware it was illegal. However, they now face a potential six-year prison sentence.

Daily Mail

According to local laws, anyone caught exporting sand or gravel could be fined up to 3,000 Euros or face up to six years in prison. Italy has made exporting sand in various languages illegal to preserve its disappearing beaches.