This week Australian Customs confiscated and destroyed a woman’s $26,000 alligator-skin handbag after she failed to pay a$70 permit to bring it into the country. The unidentified woman purchased the luxury bag from a Saint Laurent boutique in France. According to reports, she purchased an export permit from France, but did not purchase an import permit from Australia.

Australian authorities follow strict regulatory guidelines under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This international agreement monitors international trade of wildlife and wildlife products such as live animals, plants, leather goods, tourist souvenirs, specimens, and hunting trophies. Although alligator products are allowed in Australia, CITES strictly enforces the legality of goods being brought into the country.

So, this is a pricey reminder to always check with authorities and do your research, especially if you are traveling with expensive foreign products. Just to add some perspective, some people spend less than $26K on a brand-new car, so imagine not paying an import fee and although you have the keys in hand, they crush your vehicle in front of you.  At least you can hang your new-car fragrance in the bathroom. Regardless of what you can afford, the world is moving in a different direction when it comes to fashion products that use animal skin such as crocodile, python, snake leather, and fur. This cruel process has initiated new regulations and laws around the world that controls or prohibits the sale and manufacture of animal skin products. Several countries and cities have banned fur farms, and the big names in the fashion industry have followed suit.

Although the woman made an expensive mistake, it is clear that authorities made no exception, knowing she could clearly afford to pay the $70, and perhaps took some joy in destroying the luxury bag in order to teach the hard lesson that there is a zero tolerance in Australia.