Okay, let’s rewrite the provided news article about the illicit trade in dinosaur fossils, expanding it significantly and formatting it for Markdown.

The Shady World of Dinosaur Fossil Trafficking: A Lucrative, Opaque Market

The internet teems with dinosaur skeletons for sale, and customs officials routinely seize prehistoric teeth during roadside inspections. Beyond the glamorous auctions broadcast across media outlets, a veil of secrecy and ambiguity shrouds the highly profitable market for dinosaur remains. Recent interception of dinosaur teeth near Menton in southern France offers a glimpse into this opaque world.

Customs officers discovered the teeth, belonging to an extinct species of marine reptile dating back approximately 70 million years, concealed within a freight truck traveling from Spain to Italy. The shipment lacked any proper documentation or permits, immediately raising suspicion.

"These are teeth from marine reptiles, almost 70 million years old, originating from Morocco. The fossilization and sedimentation patterns are quite distinctive," explains Pierre-Elie Moullé, conservation officer at the Museum of Regional Prehistory of Menton. "This is a classic example of what we find in Morocco, which is subject to trafficking and, of course, illegal trade."

The expert, consulted by customs officials, highlights the established network involved in this illicit activity. Jeremy Xido, the American director of the documentary "Dinosaurs, the Fossil Hunt" (titled "The Bones" in its original version), which is available on the Arte streaming platform, further elaborates on the intricacies of this ‘fossil food chain.’

At the base of this chain in Morocco are impoverished individuals who extract fossils under often precarious and unsafe conditions. They are forced to take high risks in order to provide for their families. Higher up the chain are individuals with significant resources. These players, whether Moroccan or foreign, buy fossils in bulk and transport them, legally or illegally, to larger international markets, making profits.

A quick search online exposes the breadth of this clandestine trade. Online marketplaces feature a variety of fossils, with minimal guarantee of legal origin. A quick search using keywords such as "fossils," "dinosaurs," and "Morocco" on popular online sales platforms yields startling results. One example is the skeleton of a marine reptile offered for sale at around 37,000 euros, excluding shipping costs. Upon initial contact with the seller, the price jumps to nearly 45,000 euros. The exchange abruptly ends when the potential buyer inquires about the risk of Morocco claiming the skeleton.

The ambiguities surrounding such transactions are rife. Even the open market, comprised of public and highly publicized auctions, took considerable time to regulate. According to Alexandre Giquello, head of Drouot, a prominent French auction house, "When I started my career, the provenance was never discussed," regardless of the object being sold.

"The good faith of the possessor prevailed. If the seller had taken the item illegally, he was liable. But the first time provenance was mentioned in French law was 2012," the auctioneer points out.

A notable example of the complexities of this market involves the American actor Nicolas Cage, who, in 2015, returned a dinosaur skull that had been illegally extracted from Mongolia. He had purchased it at auction in Beverly Hills in 2007 for nearly $276,000 (approximately 263,000 euros). This example proves that the allure of dinosaurs is still alive.

Such transactions are a testament to the enduring fascination with dinosaurs. "It’s a past, an epic that inspires dreams. We receive many school visits to museums, and people want to own pieces of this paleontological heritage," explains Pierre-Elie Moullé.

"Everyone thinks it’s great, but not everyone buys," tempers Alexandre Giquello. Beyond the practical concerns of cost, space, and maintenance, serious collectors seek that "incredible" piece.

"If we have ten people interested in the world for a large dinosaur skeleton, that’s really the record," confides the auctioneer. "It’s a very particular clientele, very wealthy, often in the new technologies."

"Many are in the United States. Not many Asians. And they have all seen Jurassic Park," observes the auctioneer, who, in 2021, sold "Big John," a giant 8-meter-long triceratops discovered in the United States, in Paris for 6.6 million euros.

The fate of the dinosaur teeth seized near Menton remains uncertain. "It will depend on what is decided between the customs administration and probably the Ministry of Culture. It is quite common for the goods to be returned to the authorities of the country of origin," summarizes Samantha Verduron, deputy to the regional director of customs in Nice, France. The return of illegally obtained fossils to their country of origin is becoming increasingly common.

This process is not always straightforward, as proving the origin of a fossil can be a complex and time-consuming task. The scientific value of these fossils is immense. The loss of scientific information in the pursuit of profit is damaging to the paleontological community as a whole.

The rise of online marketplaces, while facilitating the buying and selling of fossils, has also made it easier for illicit dealers to operate. The anonymity and global reach of the internet make it difficult to trace the origins of fossils and to enforce laws against illegal trafficking.

Combating the illegal trade in dinosaur fossils requires a multi-faceted approach. Strengthening international cooperation between customs agencies, law enforcement, and cultural heritage organizations is crucial. This requires collaboration and resource sharing. Public education campaigns are also necessary to raise awareness of the issue and discourage the purchase of illegally obtained fossils. Collectors must know to demand detailed provenance documentation.

Additionally, supporting sustainable development in fossil-rich regions can provide local communities with alternative sources of income and reduce their reliance on illegal fossil extraction. Ensuring that local communities are able to benefit from the discovery and preservation of fossils can help protect them. There is a great need for ethical considerations.