The numerous awareness and information campaigns have not been enough: in Sardinia the number of sand and shell thefts is growing. The initiatives to reduce the phenomenon, aimed at tourists through the distribution of posters and information brochures at beach concessions and the preparation of special signs that prohibit them at national and international arrivals at Cagliari-Elmas airport, have therefore proven to be ineffective. The numbers tell, compared to previous years, a strong increase in the sanctioning activity of the Border Police Office, in the vast majority of cases against foreign tourists, who try to leave taking with them the natural souvenirs of Sardinia.
Since the beginning of the last summer season, the State Police, in particular the Office of the Air and Maritime Border Police of Cagliari, thanks to the collaboration of the security personnel engaged in airport and port security checks, in 61 separate interventions, has seized approximately 125 kilograms of sand, pebbles and shells illegally taken from the beaches of the island.
Among the most significant operations are those that allowed security personnel to block, in particular, the passage through security checks of three foreign citizens who were carrying in their personal luggage: 32 bags containing sand taken from the most famous beaches in the province, including Porto Pino, Piscinas, Su Giudeu, Fontanamre, Su Portu, Cala Domestica, Porto Cauli, Buggerru, Masua, Nora, Santa Margherita, Su Guventeddu, Campana beach, Poetto, Portixeddu, Is Figus, Teulada; 12 plastic bottles containing sand also taken from other beaches on the island, such as: La Maddalena, Poetto, Platamona, Porto Torres, Tuerredda, Cala Goloritzè, Costa Verde and from the coast of Dorgali, carefully and meticulously catalogued by them in the aforementioned containers; 16 and a half kilos of sand taken from an unspecified beach in the municipality of Villasimius. Almost all passengers, at the time of the complaint, declared that they were unaware of the relevant environmental regulations.
