Federal authorities have seized 14 ancient Egyptian artifacts valued at several million dollars after a Maryland court determined smugglers brought them into the United States through fraudulent means. The collection features amulets, stone figurines, a vase, and a limestone funerary statue worth approximately $6 million that researchers believe came from archaeological sites near the ancient city of Memphis. Customs officers found the items between August 2020 and April 2021 while examining packages at airports in Anchorage, Cincinnati, and New York.
Smugglers disguised the shipments with false labels such as home decor and garden statues before sending them to private collectors in Maryland and other locations. Acting HSI Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella described the artifacts as irreplaceable elements of global cultural heritage that document human civilization. Egypt continues to struggle with looting at archaeological sites as international demand drives black-market networks that transport stolen objects across borders using forged documents. Justice Department officials have increased efforts to recover smuggled antiquities and return them to their countries of origin.
Smugglers disguised the shipments with false labels such as home decor and garden statues before sending them to private collectors in Maryland and other locations. Acting HSI Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella described the artifacts as irreplaceable elements of global cultural heritage that document human civilization. Egypt continues to struggle with looting at archaeological sites as international demand drives black-market networks that transport stolen objects across borders using forged documents. Justice Department officials have increased efforts to recover smuggled antiquities and return them to their countries of origin.
