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Stolen antiquities returned to Islamic Republic of Afghanistan by U.S. authorities

130909washingtondc_lgWASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) returned five gold artifacts and an ancient vase to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan last week during a repatriation ceremony at the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C.

HSI Assistant Director for the Office of International Affairs John Connolly presented the objects to Afghan Ambassador to the United States Eklil Hakimi.

“Afghanistan is a nation with a proud cultural heritage, and I’m delighted that HSI has been instrumental in returning to the Afghan people a long lost piece of their history that should have never been stolen,” said HSI Assistant Director John Connolly. “Today marks HSI’s fourth cultural repatriation to Afghanistan since 2005. We are committed to the continued cooperation between our countries and beating back this illicit trade through dedicated law enforcement efforts, partnerships and training thus preserving and protecting the world’s ancient and valued treasures.”

“These items are national treasures that form the country’s identity and distinguish Afghanistan from the rest of the world,” said Ambassador Hakimi. “We are grateful to the U.S. government, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations for returning these extraordinary symbols of our past civilizations to their rightful owner today. As we look beyond 2014 into the ’Transformation Decade,’ the repatriation of these artifacts assures us that Afghanistan will once again thrive as a cultural and artistic hub. We value our relationship with the United States and the assistance they have provided in helping to preserve our nation’s history and identity.”

The vase is a 12.75-inch Roman oinochoe, or wine pitcher, from the 5th to 8th century A.D. Also returned were three 4-by-3.25-inch 5th century B.C. gold foil appliques depicting antelopes and two antique coiled gold ornaments from approximately the 17th century, weighing approximately one pound.

On March 21, 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the HSI New York El Dorado Task Force seized a shipment containing the gold artifacts and the ancient vase at Newark Liberty International Airport, Central Air Cargo Examination Facility, after HSI New York special agents discovered they were destined for a New York City man and later to a New York business suspected of dealing in looted cultural property. Through the investigative process, the antiquities were found to have originated in Afghanistan. On Jan. 25, 2012, the shipment was administratively forfeited.

HSI New York, London and Dubai are conducting this ongoing investigation.

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