ICE HSI seizes over 22,000 ancient artifacts in Florida

TAMPA, Fla. - ICE's Homeland Security Investigations Tampa, in coordination with HSI's Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities division and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, has seized more than 22,000 artifacts as part of an ongoing investigation into global antiquities smuggling. This seizure is among the largest in HSI's history.

The identification and authentication process for the large number of items will take time, 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.

"Preserving cultural heritage is not only a matter of law enforcement, but also a commitment to history and humanity," said HSI Tampa acting Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs. "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's efforts in these investigations serve two purposes: stopping the black-market trade in ancient antiquities that may fund nefarious activities and preserving the history and culture associated with these priceless artifacts as they are repatriated to their countries of origin.

The items being evaluated include coins, terracotta pots and vases, statues, weapons, jewelry, trinkets and mosaic picture frames. Cultural property can range from Egyptian statues to Byzantine glass vessels to ancient Greek and Roman coins. Unlike narcotics, there is no field test for antiquities, so HSI partners with experts at local universities to identify and authenticate objects.

HSI agents work closely with domestic and international partners to identify, investigate and recover stolen or illegally exported artifacts. The agency's Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities Program targets criminal networks involved in the theft, smuggling and sale of artifacts, including those looted from archaeological sites or stolen from museums. Conducting these investigations and returning stolen heritage to its country of origin strengthens diplomatic relations with foreign partners.

"The identification and authentication process for so many pieces will take some time to complete," said Senior Advisor Mary Cook of HSI International Operations' Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities Program. "The artifacts in this case that are determined to be genuine will be one of a kind, and HSI wants to take every step necessary to ensure a civilization's history is preserved for generations to come."

During the week of processing, HSI Tampa hosted more than a dozen experts, including top archaeological specialists, to help identify and authenticate the objects. HSI is also working with the University of South Florida and the University of Pennsylvania, whose faculty and research teams are providing specialized expertise in the analysis, historical context and conservation techniques to support this ongoing investigation.

"I never imagined I'd hold an object that may have been created more than 4,000 years ago," said HSI Tampa Special Agent Leanna Richardson, the case agent for this investigation. "It's like touring a museum with your own personal archaeologist as a tour guide and you get to touch all the pieces."

Cultural property, art and antiquities smuggling is a global crime that enables criminals to profit from stolen history, launder money and fund terrorism. Criminal networks illegally traffic a wide range of cultural property, including ancient artifacts from Egyptian sarcophagi, historic items such as letters from Christopher Columbus, dinosaur eggs and fossils, stolen museum displays, artifacts from excavation sites, and property stolen from conflict zones.

The international demand for cultural property makes the theft a highly profitable crime, with relatively low risk compared to offenses such as narcotics smuggling. Many criminals steal and smuggle cultural property, art and antiquities to fund criminal enterprises and launder profits from other crimes.

HSI's investigations often lead to the repatriation of artifacts to their countries of origin. In recent years, the agency has recovered and returned items ranging from ancient sculptures to rare manuscripts, underscoring HSI's dedication to protecting cultural property and disrupting the black market for antiquities. Recent examples include the return of stolen cultural property to Greece, the repatriation of more than 135 artifacts in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, and the return of a stolen Picasso painting valued at $15 million.