European police operation seizes 38,000 looted cultural artefacts
Investigators and customs officers from 23 countries have seized around 38,000 valuable cultural objects and arrested 80 suspects in the fight against the international theft of cultural property, the EU police agency Europol reported on Thursday.
Spain's Guardia Civil coordinated the international investigation. The artefacts included artworks, coins, musical instruments, paintings and archaeological finds.
Europol, which is based in The Hague, said the operation was the ninth edition of Operation Pandora, which targets the trafficking of cultural goods. It was set up in 2016.
Investigations are continuing, and further arrests could be expected, Europol said.
"Authorities also confiscated 69 metal detectors and 23 tools commonly used for illegal excavations, underlining the persistent threat of looting to cultural sites," it said.
The Italian carabinieri had seized more than 300 items, including coins, metal and ceramic fragments such as arrowheads and spearheads dating back to the Roman and Punic periods, it said. The artifacts were being offered for sale online and were discovered in a private apartment.
The Guardia Civil recovered 2,500 archaeological, primarily Roman, coins minted in the Celtiberian city of Tamusia. They had been found using metal detectors and were being sold through social media platforms.
A passenger flying from Palma de Mallorca to Germany was found to be carrying 55 ancient coins and a ring. The investigation led to an indictment for crimes plundering underwater wrecks and other archaeological sites.
The Greek cultural heritage authorities recovered five Byzantine icons that the criminals were seeking to sell for €70,000 ($79,000).
And Ukrainian customs authorities seized 87 cultural goods that were being illegally transported out of the country to Poland, Moldova and Romania.
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