United States — 48 Egyptian antiquities are returning home

They crossed borders, changed hands, and found themselves at the heart of a U.S. federal investigation. Years later, 48 Egyptian antiquities have finally returned to their country of origin. The FBI officially handed them over to Egypt at a ceremony held in Los Angeles.

Sculpted figurines, amulets and funerary objects make up this collection, which spans several periods of Egyptian history, from the Pharaonic era to the Roman and Coptic periods.

Behind this restitution, an investigation into the trafficking of cultural property continues. The FBI is particularly interested in determining who participated in the trade of these antiquities. According to Allen Grove, a special agent with the Art Crime Team, the main suspected trafficker is deceased. Investigators are now searching for possible accomplices and believe that other pieces may still be in circulation.

The exact origin of the 48 objects and the circumstances of their removal from Egypt have not been disclosed. US authorities remain tight-lipped about these details while the investigation continues.

For Egypt, however, the return of these artifacts goes beyond their purely archaeological value. The Egyptian Consul General in Los Angeles, Hossam Eldeen Aly, emphasized their importance to the history, identity, and cultural heritage of the Egyptian people.

This handover is part of the cooperation between the United States and Egypt against the international trafficking of cultural property. For investigators, the case remains open because, while the 48 antiquities have been returned, other pieces could still be sought.

Yolande Bazié