FBI Investigating Missing Ancient Treasures
The FBI is investigating a large-scale international operation involving the sale of hundreds of ancient artifacts believed to be stolen from the British Museum.
FBI Assists in Recovering Stolen Items and Identifying Buyers
The investigation centers around Dr. Peter Higgs, a former curator at the British Museum, accused of stealing, damaging, and selling valuable antiquities.
The FBI has been instrumental in locating missing items and identifying buyers who unknowingly purchased stolen artifacts.
FBI investigating missing ancient treasures from British Museum https://t.co/2H4iPSUFUU
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) May 27, 2024
Source: Twitter/BBC News
According to the BBC, the FBI helped recover 268 items sold to a collector in Washington DC. These items are currently undergoing verification to confirm ownership by the British Museum.
Unregistered Artifacts Targeted by Former Curator
Investigators believe Dr. Higgs targeted uncatalogued items from the museum's storerooms, making it more difficult to detect their absence. Court documents allege Dr. Higgs used the eBay username "sultan1966" to sell stolen artifacts to buyers worldwide.
One such buyer, Tonio Birbiglia from New Orleans, unknowingly purchased two gems from Dr. Higgs' eBay account. These gems, an amethyst depicting Cupid and an orange scarab beetle, were never recovered by authorities despite Mr. Birbiglia's willingness to cooperate with the FBI.
International Scope of the Stolen Artifacts Case
The investigation extends beyond the United States. Dr. Ittai Gradel, a Danish antiquities dealer, traced artifacts sold by Dr. Higgs to various locations, including Germany, France, and Hong Kong.
One particularly notable case involves a rare 2nd-century head of Hercules sculpted from obsidian. Dr. Gradel unknowingly purchased this valuable gem from Dr. Higgs and later sold it to a private collector. The gem was subsequently loaned for an exhibition in Germany.
British Museum Works to Recover Missing Treasures
The British Museum is actively working to reclaim stolen artifacts. They have successfully retrieved gems from the Washington DC collector and are currently examining items recovered from Dr. Gradel to determine their origin.
Unresolved Questions and Ongoing Investigation
While some stolen artifacts have been recovered, many remain missing. The FBI's investigation continues, aiming to locate the remaining stolen treasures and hold those responsible accountable.
The full extent of Dr. Higgs' alleged operation and the number of artifacts sold illegally are still being determined.
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