The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has said that more than 41,000 artefacts have been seized in a global operation targeting the trafficking of cultural artefacts.
The objects include coins, furniture, paintings, musical instruments, archaeological pieces and sculptures.
The seizures were made during the first joint customs and police operation codenamed Athena organized by the World Customs Organization and INTERPOL, and the Europe-focused Operation Pandora II coordinated by the Spanish Guardia Civil and Europol.
Tens of thousands of checks were carried out at airports and border crossing points across 81 countries during the operations which ran from October to December 2017. Auction houses, museums and private houses were also searched, resulting in more than 300 investigations being opened and 101 people arrested.
With the Internet becoming an important part of the chain in the illicit trade of cultural goods, law enforcement officers also monitored online market places and sales sites.
This resulted in the seizure more than 7,000 objects, nearly 20 per cent of the total number of artefacts recovered during the operations. In just one investigation in Spain, the Guardia Civil seized more than 2,000 cultural objects, the majority of which were coins from the Roman and other Empires. Officials also seized 88 pieces of ivory as well as weapons including swords, a crossbow and 39 historical firearms ranging from rifles to pistols.
Brazilian Customs also seized a marble head hidden in a passenger’s suitcase. Verification of the piece’s provenance is ongoing.
“The results of the Operations Athena and Pandora II speak for themselves: cooperation between Customs and Police can yield excellent results and should be promoted and sustained at all levels. The fight against illicit trafficking of cultural objects has been long neglected by law enforcement agencies, however, we cannot turn a blind eye to it.
“While we lose our common history and identity, the proceeds of trafficking fuel terrorism, conflicts and other criminal activities,” said WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya.
“We will keep working in this area of enforcement and will soon deploy the first specialized global training curriculum for Customs administrations – a very concrete and hands-on outcome of our common work,” he added.
INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said the Operations struck a blow against the illicit trafficking of cultural goods which poses a threat to international peace and security.
“For criminals, the black market in works of art is becoming just as lucrative as for drugs, weapons and counterfeit goods. Ancient artefacts also represent a potential source of great wealth for terrorist groups,” said Secretary General Stock.
“To know what has been stolen and from where is the first step in any investigation, which is why INTERPOL is continuing to encourage the creation of specialized national unit and databases,” added the INTERPOL Chief.
Most of the actions were developed and coordinated jointly between Customs and Police at the national level with the support and participation of experts from the Ministries of Culture and other relevant institutions and law enforcement agencies.
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