The United States government has returned a collection of ancient artifacts to Egypt, including a Greco-Roman style Egyptian sarcophagus. This event took place at the National Geographic Society in Washington, as part of "Operation Mummy’s Curse," an ongoing investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into an international smuggling network.
"Preserving mankind’s cultural heritage is an increasingly difficult challenge in today’s society. To think that some of these treasured artifacts were recovered from garages, exposed to the elements, is unimaginable," said ICE Director Sarah R. Saldaña. She emphasized the honor it is for ICE to assist other countries in preserving their heritage.
The investigation led to significant recoveries, such as the nesting sarcophagus found in Brooklyn, New York, in 2009 and a shipment intercepted at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in 2010 containing Egyptian goods like a funerary boat model and figurines. Additionally, 638 ancient coins were seized, with 65 repatriated to Egypt.
"I am very pleased to see these items finally returned to their rightful home," stated U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Stephen Beecroft. He highlighted this repatriation as evidence of close cooperation between the U.S. and Egypt in protecting cultural heritage.
Other returned antiquities include Middle Kingdom wooden boat models and limestone reliefs from an Egyptian temple. Ambassador Mohamed Tawfik expressed gratitude towards the U.S., particularly ICE agents, for recovering these priceless artifacts.
The investigation revealed a network involving smugglers and importers who used illegal methods to bring items into the U.S., tracing back funds and items to various countries including Egypt and Iraq.
"These artifacts will provide the Egyptian people a key to their past," said Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, affirming their partnership with ICE in enforcing customs law.
Since 2007, ICE has repatriated over 80 items to Egypt across four events and more than 7,800 artifacts globally from various nations including France, Germany, China, Cambodia, Mongolia among others.
National Geographic President Gary Knell remarked on their longstanding support for such efforts: "Preserving the world’s cultural heritage has always been and will continue to be a priority for National Geographic."