Man arrested and charged after going scuba diving in Mallorca
Man arrested and charged after going scuba diving in Mallorca
His equipment was also seized by the police
The man (still wearing his wetsuit) is seen with a Guardia Civil officer
A man has been arrested after going scuba diving in Mallorca. The man was charged with allegedly plundering a 2,000-year-old shipwreck after surfacing with a number of objects.
The unnamed man, 39, was emerging from the water wearing a wetsuit when he was approached by police. He had a metal detector with him and in a neoprene bag wrapped around his hips, officers discovered several objects which the man is alleged to have brought up from the seabed.
Among the items were coins, an old screw and metal plates which were found to potentially be made of lead. The police confiscated the man's belongings and his equipment. He has now been charged by the Guardia Civil for a crime against historical heritage.
Equipment, including a metal detector which was confiscated
He allegedly looted artefacts from The Ses Llumetes wreck, a 1st century A.D. Roman shipwreck discovered in Porto Cristo harbour, Mallorca, Spain. It is known for its well-preserved wooden hull and a diverse cargo, including ceramics, building materials, and a unique deposit of volcanic ash that protected the wood from decay.
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The wreck site has been extensively researched and is considered one of the most important underwater archaeological sites in Mallorca. Since being charged, the man, an ex-pat living in Mallorca, has been released by police.
Coins and metal parts which the man is alleged to have brought up from the seabed
His breathing gear used for diving and his metal detector were confiscated. The use of this type of equipment is banned in protected areas which serve as the locations of historical sites.
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The man also received several fines for breaching diving regulations after the incident on May 22.
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