by Abhik Maitra at Babsa News
Dozens of ancient artifacts that had been on display in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art have been seized, with officials saying they were previously looted from their countries of origin.
The 27 items — which were confiscated while executing five search warrants in 2022 — will be returned to their home countries of Egypt and Italy in ceremonies next week, Doug Cohen, a spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, told BuzzFeed News.
The seizures at the Met are part of the office’s larger goal of repatriating trafficked antiquities. In August, the office announced a 14th century religious artifact would be returned to Nepal and two 17th century books would be brought back to Spain after they were found circulating in the private art market.
In addition to those from the Met, dozens more items will be returned to Egypt and Italy in next week’s ceremonies, though officials did not immediately say where they were recovered from.
“58 objects will go back to Italy, 21 from the Met. 16 to Egypt, six from the Met,” Cohen said. Additional artifacts seized from the Met will be returned to Libya and India, he added.
In total, the 27 Italian and Egyptian items seized…
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