The passenger had arrived from Miami via Istanbul, reportedly returning from holiday, when customs officials discovered the reptile’s head wrapped in brown paper in an attempt to conceal it.

The head was seized and the man placed under investigation for allegedly smuggling a protected species.

Crocodiles are protected under the Washington Convention, a 1973 international agreement regulating trade in endangered species. If convicted, the man faces a fine of between €20,000 and €200,000 (£17,200-£172,000), or six months to a year in prison.

“The item was seized because it had been imported without the required certificate or licence,” police said.

The case forms part of a wider Italian crackdown on illegal wildlife trafficking. WWF Italy has warned that “tortoises, ornamental birds, tropical reptiles and even small primates” are illegally traded through online and cross-border channels.