Italy Arrests 34 Tomb Raiders; 7,000 Ancient Greek Coins Seized

Italian authorities announced on Friday the arrest of 34 suspects accused of looting archaeological sites in Sicily and Calabria, in a major operation targeting tomb raiding and illicit trade in cultural property.

The Carabinieri’s art squad seized approximately 10,000 artifacts, including 7,000 coins issued by ancient Greek city-states that once existed on Sicily, prosecutors said. Additional items recovered included hundreds of clay and terracotta vases, bronze rings, brooches, and arrowheads. The total estimated value of the recovered artifacts is 17 million euros ($20 million).

In Sicily, nine individuals were placed in pre-trial detention, while 14 were placed under house arrest. Charges include criminal conspiracy, theft of cultural property, trading in stolen goods, and counterfeiting, according to the Catania prosecutors’ office.

Looting of Italy’s archaeological and artistic heritage is a long-standing problem, but the Carabinieri have had increasing success in recovering stolen artifacts in recent years. Authorities said this operation marks one of the most significant recoveries of ancient coins and artifacts in recent history.