Italy's National Security Police said on December 30 that Italian police, in cooperation with U.S. police, recovered 201 stolen artifacts in the United States, which were estimated to be worth a total of about 10 million euros.
The National Security Police said in a statement that the recovered artifacts included sculptures, amphoraes, vases and terracotta busts, many dating back to ancient Rome and the Etruscan period. At least 160 artifacts have been returned to Italy, and the remaining artifacts are currently in the Italian Consulate General in New York.
Roberto Ricardi, director of the National Security Police's Cultural Protection Division, said: "Investigators have dug up a chain from illegal excavations and art dealers to U.S. museums, auction houses, art galleries and private collections. ”
Italy's culture minister, Dario Franceschini, said the illegal excavations were carried out by professional criminal gangs. Those who were familiar with ancient civilizations usually stole tombs under the cover of night.
Franceschini said all artifacts recovered in the United States will eventually return to their places of origin.
Italy's National Security Police have been working with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation for years on the tracing of artifacts. According to the Associated Press, police recovered 96 artifacts, including pottery and amphora, from the Museum of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Art in Fodeme, New York; a 4th-century BC statue from a gallery in New York; and six artifacts from the Getty Museum, including a large ceramic vessel from the Etruscan period.
As the rotating presidency for 2021, Italy pushed the G20 to agree to intensify the crackdown on the illegal trade in art. Italy's national security police seized nearly 1,700 fakes and more than 23,600 artifacts in 2021, with an estimated total value of more than 427 million euros, according to The Agence France-Presse. About 1,190 people involved were indicted.
Source: CCTV news client