ICE Seizes Over 22,000 Ancient Artifacts In Florida Smuggling Case

(MENAFN- USA Art News) The Homeland Security Investigations unit of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the seizure of more than 22,000 ancient artifacts in Florida. This action is part of a broader smuggling investigation that the agency described as“among the largest in the agency's history,” according to a press release.

Preliminary assessments suggest that some of these objects may trace back to civilizations dating between 1,000 and 5,000 years ago. Their potential origins span sites across Europe, Africa, the Levant, and the Eastern Mediterranean. The confiscated items, which require further study for identification and authentication, include coins, ceramic pots and vases, statues, weapons, jewelry, trinkets, and mosaic picture frames.

Micah McCombs, HSI Tampa acting Special Agent in Charge, emphasized the broader implications of such illicit trade.“Preserving cultural heritage is not only a matter of law enforcement, but also a commitment to history and humanity. The trafficking of cultural property not only robs civilizations of their heritage, but also channels money into transnational criminal organizations, results in international financial crimes and, in some cases, even funds terrorist activities,” McCombs stated.

HSI Tampa Special Agent Leanna Richardson expressed personal astonishment.“I never imagined I'd hold an object that may have been created more than 4,000 years ago. It's like touring a museum with your own personal archaeologist as a tour guide and you get to touch all the pieces,” she remarked.

The agency noted that, unlike narcotics, antiquities lack a field test, requiring HSI to collaborate with university experts for identification and authentication. The ICE announcement did not provide specific details regarding the location, timing, or methods of the artifacts' seizure.

Source: ARTnews

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