Police bust dealers of valuable artifacts
Two members of a suspected ring trading in exceptionally valuable, illegally acquired ancient artifacts – one piece worth an estimated 7 million euros – were being questioned by police in Thessaloniki yesterday. The two Greeks, aged 48 and 51, were arrested on Friday night by police who stopped the car in which they were traveling on the Egnatia Highway, near the junction with Kavala, for an inspection. A search of the car turned up a bronze statue dating to the 4th century BC, which the suspects are believed to have been on their way to sell for 7 million euros. Subsequent raids on the two suspects’ homes in the city of Drama turned up several more artifacts, including the bronze head of a boy dating to the Roman period and several ancient coins. Officers said they were seeking other suspected ring members as well as prospective customers.
