Museum worker ‘sold artifacts’
An official at an archaeological museum and another person were detained in Thessaloniki yesterday on suspicion of illegally trading in hundreds of rare antiquities. The 41-year-old chief suspect and a 44-year-old believed to be his accomplice were caught on Monday by undercover officers posing as interested buyers. The suspects are alleged to have been offering a collection of some 200 artifacts from the medieval and ancient eras for 400,000 euros. The items included bronze and silver jewelry and clothing ornaments, two marble heads and dozens of coins. A search of the homes of the two suspects also unearthed several stamps from prefectural and tax authorities. The 41-year-old, who is believed to have tried to make several other artifact sales over the past few months, was a full-time employee of the Archaeological Museum of Dion, near an important ancient Macedonian sanctuary in Pieria, according to Agence France-Presse.
