The federal immigration and customs authorities of the United States seized more than 22,000 ancient artifacts in Florida this Friday, in what is shaping up to be one of the largest seizures of this kind in the agency's history.
Preliminary evaluations indicate that some of the objects may belong to civilizations dating from 1,000 to 5,000 years old, coming from sites in Europe, Africa, the Levant, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Among the confiscated pieces are coins, clay pots and vases, statues, weapons, jewelry, ornaments, and mosaic frames.
The process of identifying and authenticating such a large volume of items will require a considerable amount of time.
During the processing week, HSI Tampa brought together more than a dozen archaeological specialists and collaborated with the University of South Florida and the University of Pennsylvania, whose teams provide expertise in historical analysis and conservation techniques.
The operation was carried out by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division in Tampa, in coordination with HSI's Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities program and the Customs and Border Protection Office.
The seizure is part of an ongoing investigation into global networks of antiquities smuggling.
"The preservation of cultural heritage is not only a matter of law enforcement but also a commitment to history and humanity," stated Micah McCombs, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Tampa.
"The trafficking of cultural property not only robs civilizations of their heritage but also directs money towards transnational criminal organizations, generates international financial crimes, and, in some cases, even funds terrorist activities."
The seizure this Friday is not an isolated incident. Last June, HSI Tampa had already seized over 12,000 artifacts in the same area of Tampa as part of the same investigation, an operation that was at that time described as possibly the largest of its kind in the agency's history.
The new figure of 22,000 pieces far exceeds that record and solidifies the case as one of the most significant in the program.
The special agent Leanna Richardson, the lead investigator of the case, eloquently described the experience: “I never imagined I would hold in my hands an object that could have been created over 4,000 years ago. It's like touring a museum with your own personal archaeologist as your guide, and you can even touch all the pieces.”
«The artifacts in this case that turn out to be authentic will be unique in their class,» noted Mary Cook, senior advisor to the program, «and HSI wants to take every necessary step to ensure that the history of a civilization is preserved for future generations.»
HSI warns that the black market for antiques is a highly profitable and low-risk business compared to drug trafficking, making it an attractive avenue for money laundering and funding criminal organizations.
Unlike narcotics, there is no field test to authenticate antiques, so the agency relies on university experts to verify each piece.
The Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities program of HSI has repatriated more than 20,000 objects to over 40 countries and institutions since 2007.
Among its recent cases are the return of cultural heritage to Greece, the repatriation of more than 135 artifacts in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, and the recovery of a Picasso painting valued at 15 million dollars.
Related videos:
Filed under: