Egypt investigate into antiquities trafficking operation to Iraq

Egyptian media reported that the Damietta Prosecution has opened an investigation into the antiquities trafficking operation which was thwarted in the port of Damietta, before they were sent to Iraq.

The Customs Authority in Damietta Port, headed by Osam Ashmawi, foiled an attempt to smuggle 17 artifacts inside a shipment of furniture for Iraq, in violation of the Law of Protection of Monuments No. 117.

The prosecution seized the antiquities and investigated the driver of the truck carrying the shipment, before he was released, while a higher committee of the Ministry of Antiquities will be tasked to examine the monuments.

Antiquities trafficking operations flourished in Iraq and Syria after the emergence of the Islamic state (ISISI) in the two countries. In the last two years, the organization financed itself through the smuggling of ancient antiquities dating back to thousands of years, especially since the arrival of militants to the city of Mosul in last June, taking advantage of the lack of security at the archaeological sites in the province.

The UNESCO said that Iraq has 4,500 archaeological sites, featuring the rarest ancient archaeological pieces dating back to thousands of years, which were looted after the jihadi group attacks, while indicating the agency of Iraqi intelligence, that "Islamic state" has collected $36 million from antiques sales.