The Homeland Security Investigations unit of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) said it seized more than 22,000 ancient artifacts in Florida as part of a smuggling inquest that counts “among the largest in the agency’s history,” according to a press release.
“The identification and authentication process for the large number of items will take time,” the release reads, “but preliminary evaluations indicate that some objects may have originated from ancient civilizations dating between 1,000 and 5,000 years ago, from sites across Europe, Africa and the Levant, and the Eastern Mediterranean.”
The seized treasures coming in for further study include coins, ceramic pots and vases, statues, weapons, jewelry, trinkets, and mosaic picture frames. As noted by the ICE unit: “Unlike narcotics, there is no field test for antiquities, so HSI partners with experts at local universities to identify and authenticate objects.”
In a statement, HSI Tampa acting Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs said, “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.”
HSI Tampa Special Agent Leanna Richardson said, “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.”
The ICE announcement did not include any information as to the particulars of where, when, or how the ancient artifacts were seized.
