More than 22,000 ancient artifacts from around the world, some dating back 5,000 years, were seized by officials in Florida to disrupt criminal networks involved in smuggling cultural property, according to authorities.
The collection includes vases, weapons, jewelry, and mosaic picture frames, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency announced in a statement on Friday. This seizure ranks among the largest in ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit.
The artifacts also feature Egyptian statues, Byzantine glass vessels, and ancient Greek and Roman coins, as detailed in the statement.
“The artifacts here that are verified as genuine will be unique in the world, and H.S.I. will take every necessary step to preserve civilization’s history for future generations,” stated Mary Cook, a senior adviser in the unit’s Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities program.
Preliminary assessments indicate some items originated from civilizations 1,000 to 5,000 years old, sourced from sites across Europe, Africa, and the eastern Mediterranean, per ICE’s findings.
Authorities have not disclosed the location or timing of the seizure, nor provided details on arrests or charges. ICE did not immediately respond to inquiries on Sunday.
The agency emphasized that artifact identification will require time, as no field test exists for antiquities like those for narcotics.
Officials will collaborate with university experts to authenticate the items, including researchers from the University of South Florida and the University of Pennsylvania.
ICE stated it focuses on dismantling criminal networks engaged in the theft, smuggling, and illicit sale of artifacts, such as those stolen from archaeological sites and museums.
“Cultural property trafficking not only deprives civilizations of their heritage but also finances transnational organized crime, triggers international financial crimes, and in some cases, supports terrorist activities,” noted Micah McCombs, acting special agent in charge at Homeland Security Investigations in Tampa.
Officials stated such investigations aim to safeguard artifacts and facilitate their return to countries of origin.
“Global demand for cultural property makes theft a highly lucrative crime with low risk compared to offenses like narcotics trafficking,” ICE reported.
