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Egyptian customs seize smuggled artefacts from Peru, Ecuador

On Wednesday, the Ministry of State for Antiquities received five Ecuadorian and Peruvian artefacts confiscated from Cairo International Airport.

Egyptian customs seize smuggled artefacts from Peru, Ecuador
Egyptian customs seize smuggled artefacts from Peru, Ecuador
Ecadorian heads (above) and Peruvian statues retrieved by Egyptian customs officials [Credit: Ahram]
The artefacts include three Ecuadorian heads carved in black wood that date back to 800BC, and two Peruvian statues that date to 250BC.

Official Ahmed El-Rawi told Ahram Online that the statues were confiscated in March when the police at the airport caught an Egyptian citizen trying to illegally smuggle the objects to Alexandria. The objects had been transported to Egypt from the United States in a wooden box.

The objects are now at the Egyptian museum in central Cairo, and will be handed over to the Ecuadorian and Peruvian embassies this week.

Author: Nevine El-Aref | Source: Ahram Online [June 19, 2013]