close
Friday July 26, 2024

US returns $1m in stolen antiquities to Nepal

By AFP
December 06, 2023

NEW YORK: The United States has returned four antiquities worth $1 million to Nepal, including a pair of gilt copper masks representing a Hindu deity, following anti-trafficking operations, New York authorities said late on Monday.

One of the items was seized as part of a probe into Subhash Kapoor, whom Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg described as an “allegedly prolific looter who helped traffic items” from several Asian countries.

A picture shows a US flag fluterring. — AFP/File
A picture shows a US flag fluterring. — AFP/File

Between 2011 and 2023, officials claim to have recovered more than 2,500 items trafficked by Kapoor and his network, Bragg’s office said in a statement. “The total value of the pieces recovered exceeds $143 million,” it added.

“We will continue to target antiquities trafficking networks no matter how complex. I thank our outstanding team of analysts and attorneys... for recovering and returning these beautiful pieces,” Bragg said.