antiquities smuggling

A bronze idol of Lord Shiva as the supreme teacher of yoga, knowledge, and music, Shri Dakshinamurthy.

News

Missing Idol of Lord Shiva Linked to Dealer Who Pleaded Guilty To Trafficking Stolen Antiquities in 2021

The replica idol was discovered after "elaborate" investigations by the Idol Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police.

By
Daniel Cassady
May 4, 2023 4:56 pm

'Celestial dancer (Devata)', an 11th century artifact from India identified in the investigation into looted objects in the Met collection.

News

New Investigation Finds More than 1,000 Objects in Met’s Collection Linked to Antiquities Trafficking

Less than half of the group have records detailing how they traveled from their country of origin to New York, according to the report.

By
Tessa Solomon
Mar 21, 2023 9:41 am

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 29: A member of the U.S. Marshals Service walks in front of the Federal District court for the Southern District of Florida, where Cesar Sayoc will be formally addressed with the charges against him on October 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. Mr. Sayoc was arrested on allegations that he mailed pipe bombs targeting critics of President Donald Trump in New York, Washington D.C., California and Florida. All the packages had a return address of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's office. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

News

Miami Art Dealer Who Smuggled Ivory Sculptures Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison

The Miami art dealer purposely separated the sculptures into parts and mailed them to other addresses to avoid detection.

By
Karen K. Ho
Mar 15, 2023 2:32 pm

Exterior view of a white building on a green-blue lake, with a gray lattice domed roof.

News

With Charges Upheld in Louvre Trafficking Case, Should Major Institutions Reconsider Acquisitions of Egyptian Antiquities?

An alleged smuggling ring has thrown the acquisition processes for several major museums into turmoil.

By
Devorah Lauter
Feb 14, 2023 5:00 am

Subhash Kapoor, escorted into court in 2014.

News

Antiquities Dealer Subhash Kapoor Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison by Indian Court

He was described by authorities as one of the world's most prolific antiquities smugglers.

By
Tessa Solomon
Nov 2, 2022 1:27 pm

News

Egyptian Antiquities Trafficking Investigation Embroils Several German Museums

The investigation has resulted in an indictment against the former director of the Louvre.

By
Tessa Solomon
Aug 31, 2022 3:48 pm

A fragment of a floor mosaic from 500-550 CE currently in the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum's collections, with a provenance connected to Georges Lotfi. The mosaic is among the artifacts suspected of having been looted by the authorities.

News

Dealer Who Helped Agents Investigate Antiquities Smuggling Now Wanted for Selling Looted Art

The collector and dealer, Georges Lofti, was a longtime source of information for agents pursuing antiquities traffickers.

By
Tessa Solomon
Aug 9, 2022 4:00 pm