Antiquities smuggling attempt thwarted in Aswan

[Kevininabydos]

A collection of ancient Egyptian and Islamic artefacts has been seized by Customs Police in Aswan on their way out of the country

The Customs Police at the High Dam Port in the Upper Egypt city of Aswan Wednesday caught a Sudanese traveller attempting to illegally smuggle seven wooden boxes full of ancient Egyptian and Islamic artefacts out of the country.

The 50-year-old was arrested after policemen found that the boxes contained a wooden chair inlaid with ivory and pearls, clay and metal pots, as well as a number of statuettes and canopic jars. Investigations are underway to ascertain if the man was working alone or had colleagues in Egypt or abroad.

Hassan Rasmi, head of the Confiscation Department at the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), told Ahram Online that an archaeological committee is to travel tonight to inspect the collection and check its authenticity. If deemed authentic, the artifacts would be transferred to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo for restoration.



source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsConte ... Aswan.aspx

[DIANA]

Very glad to hear that the Egyptian Customs Police are on the ball. Let's hope that no damage has been done to the artefacts.

[Who2]

Reminiscent of the scene at the end of Temple of Doom, with all those stacked boxes very much like the basements of the Cairo Museum, 'there's always more below the surface.....