U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) recently repatriated seven stolen artifacts to France. The artifacts were transferred to French Ambassador Phillippe Etienne during a repatriation ceremony at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C.
The repatriated artifacts included a gold coin from the 3rd century, five gold ingots from the 18th century that were recovered from the ocean floor where they had remained for centuries, and a human skull from the 18th century that was stolen from Paris’ catacombs.
“We are very grateful to the United States for the action taken by its services to return these artifacts and emphasize the quality of cooperation between the French and American customs, police, and judicial services in the fight against trafficking in cultural property,” said Ambassador Etienne. “Facilitating this historically important restitution is the perfect illustration of the diligent application of our cooperation agreements, which I see as fundamental.”
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