US authorities have secured the forfeiture of a cache of ancient Egyptian treasures that were smuggled into the country, disguised as ordinary home decor. The US Attorney's Office in Baltimore announced Monday that a federal court in Maryland finalized the forfeiture after a default judgment. The 14 artifacts—including amulets, figurines, and a limestone funerary statue valued at $6 million—were intercepted by Customs and Border Protection agents at airports in Anchorage, Cincinnati, and New York City between August 2020 and April 2021, per CBS News and Axios. At least one package was headed for a private collector in Edgewater, Maryland, according to the attorney's office.
Shipping documents reportedly described the contents as "home decor" and "decoration," though a review by historians and appraisers revealed their true significance. Authorities believe the limestone statue may have originated from royal burial sites in Saqqara or Giza, two major archaeological areas near modern Cairo. The Justice Department has indicated that, as with prior cases, it will begin the process of returning the artifacts to Egypt through appropriate diplomatic channels. "These ancient artifacts ... are irreplaceable pieces of global cultural heritage that tell the story of human civilization," said Evan Campanella, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Baltimore.
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