By Associated Press

ROME - Homeless people in Italy will be savoring beluga caviar this Christmas, thanks to officials who seized 88 pounds of the contraband delicacy from smugglers.

The caviar has been given to Italian charities to be served alongside usual foods fed to the poor on Christmas, officials said yesterday.

Italy and many other countries ban beluga caviar, the most expensive variety, in hopes of saving the dwindling population of sturgeon who produce the salty eggs.

Late last month, officials seized the 88 pounds of Russian beluga from the refrigerator at a woman’s home in Milan. The pricey treat was destined for the black market.

The woman and two Polish citizens were arrested. But what to do with all the confiscated fish eggs?

“I came up with the idea of giving away the caviar to the poor,” said Franco Mantegazza, an inspector in Tradate Varese, “because last year we ended up destroying” it, she said.

This year’s haul is being donated to the Red Cross, Franciscan monks and groups that prepare holiday meals for the poor.