226 ancient artifacts were returned to Italy from the United States, including works from the Etruscan civilization, Great Greece and the Roman Empire.
This is reported by Reuters.
The total value of these artifacts is estimated at tens of millions of euros. They were transported to the US and sold in the late 1990s by an international network of smugglers.
As explained in a statement by the specialized unit of the Carabinieri of Italy, the return of the artifacts was made possible by cooperation between the judicial authorities of Italy and the United States.
Artifacts include pottery, a statue head, mosaic fragments and coins.
The Italian side reported that 145 items were seized as part of the antiquities dealer’s bankruptcy procedure, 65 came from the Menil Collection museum in the American city of Houston.
