French police seize 13 tons of tiny Eiffel Towers

[April 14, 2012]  PARIS (AP) -- Paris police say they've seized some rather unusual contraband: around 13 tons of mini Eiffel Towers.

Police official Pierre Coric says a Paris souvenir shop owner, her husband and her son also were arrested in the weighty trinket-seizure Friday.

The three are accused of selling the mini towers at tourist spots including the Louvre and the actual Eiffel Tower without a permit.

The operation, led jointly by French customs, social security and the police transport division, followed several months of surveillance of the souvenir shop. Police say the boutique illegally rakes in some euro1 million ($1.31 million) per year.

If 13 tons seems like a heavy load, it pales in comparison to the real Eiffel Tower, which weighs in at 11,100 tons.

[Associated Press; By THOMAS ADAMSON]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.