Egypt Recovers 25 Looted Antiquities From United States in Major Repatriation Effort
Twenty-five ancient Egyptian artifacts illegally taken from Egypt have been returned from the United States, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry announced Monday. The items, recovered through a coordinated legal and diplomatic effort, represent one of the largest recent repatriations of stolen antiquities to the country.
The artifacts, which date back to various periods of ancient Egyptian history, were handed over to Egyptian officials by the Egyptian Consulate General in New York. The collection includes intricately carved sarcophagus lids, gilded and ceramic funerary masks, statues, and jewelry. A rare gold coin from the era of Ptolemy I and a Greco-Roman-era portrait of a woman are among the most notable items.
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The recovery effort was carried out in cooperation with the New York City district attorney’s office, US law enforcement agencies, and private collectors. Egyptian authorities including the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Public Prosecution Service also participated in the operation.
The Foreign Ministry praised the cooperation, calling it a “significant achievement” in Egypt’s ongoing campaign to reclaim its cultural heritage. Egypt has ramped up international efforts in recent years to recover antiquities that were looted and trafficked during periods of political instability.
The Egyptian government says the repatriation reflects a growing international consensus on the need to restore cultural property to its country of origin.
