The Egyptian government has successfully recovered a rare collection of antiquities that had been smuggled out of the country illegally.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, through the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and the International Cooperation Administration at the Office of the Public Prosecutor, led a three-year effort culminating in the return of 25 artefacts from New York.
The antiquities were handed over after years of coordinated work involving the Egyptian Consulate General in New York, the New York District Attorney’s Office, and US law enforcement agencies.
The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathi, hailed the recovery as evidence of Egypt’s unwavering commitment, across all state institutions, to safeguarding its unique civilisational heritage.
He described this mission as a national priority, commending the constructive cooperation between the ministries involved, as well as all relevant local and international entities.
“This accomplishment underscores our determination to protect our heritage and to halt the unlawful export of our shared history,” Fathi said.
The Minister also highlighted the effective coordination with US authorities and international partners, emphasising that the protracted investigations reflect a collective resolve to combat the illicit trade in cultural property.
He reiterated that Egypt is steadfastly taking all necessary measures to reclaim artefacts that left the country unlawfully, fulfilling its historical and national responsibility to preserve this legacy for future generations.
SCA Secretary-General, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, stated that among the 25 pieces are gilded wooden sarcophagus lids from the dynastic period, a Fayum mummy portrait from between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD, and a granite foot dating from 1189–1292 BC. The trove also includes exquisite jewellery from the 4th century BC, believed fragments from the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, several small ivory and stone statuettes, and other distinctive artefacts spanning various eras of ancient Egyptian civilisation.
The recovered artefacts will now undergo restoration at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir before being displayed in a temporary exhibition.
