U.S. Returns Stolen Cultural Objects to PeruBy STAN PARCHINDecember 14, 2009 Eight stolen cultural religious objects returned to Peru. Photograph courtesy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities announced on December 11, 2009 the return of eight Peruvian cultural religious artifacts by the organization's Office of Investigations in Miami, Florida. The two small wooden statues, a metal one, two pendants, a crucifix, a painting and a church vestment, seized in 2007 and 2008, were received by Deputy Consul General of Peru Jaime Arrospide. The Peruvian government contacted ICE in October 2007 regarding the alleged illegal sale of its cultural property on eBay. ICE's special agents determined after an interview that the retailer of an 18th-century vestment chest and other items to be auctioned separately was a Miami resident. The trunk and other assorted objects were seized pending their authentication. In November 2008, the same man was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Miami International Airport upon his return from Peru. His luggage contained numerous items believed to be part of Peru's cultural patrimony. The objects were confiscated and ICE was contacted. All of the works were subsequently authenticated. Peru's patrimony laws prohibit the illicit export and transfer of ownership of its cultural property. Such items cannot be exported from Peru without the proper documentation and written permission of the Institute of National Culture (INC). Importing stolen cultural property is a U.S. violation. The objects are subject to seizure and forfeiture. The importer can face criminal charges. Anthony V. Mangione, special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Miami, said, "The artifacts we have recovered are a significant part of the cultural history of Peru and no one should profit from smuggled antiquities. This repatriation demonstrates the success of cooperative efforts among foreign governments and U.S. law enforcement authorities."
U.S. Returns Stolen Cultural Objects to PeruBy STAN PARCHINDecember 14, 2009
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