An international circuit antiquities, accused of stealing and smuggling thousands of cultural and archaeological artifacts from Bulgaria to various European countries, was dismantled after an extensive, coordinated operation.

Authorities from six countries cooperated with Eurojust and Europol, making 35 arrests and conducting more than 125 inspections in different locations. Over 3,000 items were seized, with an estimated value of over €100 million, while the total damage from the ring's activities reached €870 million.

Development of the case

The investigation began in 2020, when 7,000 archaeological finds of great historical value were discovered in Bulgaria, including masks, military equipment, jewelry, vases and cups from the Thracian and Greco-Roman civilizations, some dating back to 2000 BC. The absence of legal documents led the authorities to identify a wider ring of illegal excavations and antiquities trafficking.

Among those arrested is a high-value target, believed to be the mastermind behind the network, which financed illegal excavations in Bulgaria and neighboring countries. The ring used suspicious documents from international auctions and galleries in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States to legalize and channel the stolen items.

On 19 November, Eurojust coordinated the operations in The Hague, while searches and arrests were carried out in:

Bulgaria: 35 arrests and 120 checks
France, Germany, Greece, Albania: targeted searches to locate additional objects

Among the items seized are ancient gold and silver coins, works of art, various archaeological finds, electronic devices, documents, as well as amounts of cash and investment gold.

The authorities involved

Bulgaria: Sofia Prosecutor's Office, National Investigation Service, Organized Crime Directorate, National Security Service
France: Paris Court (JUNALCO), OCBC
Albania: SPAK
Germany: Munich I Public Prosecutor's Office, Art Research Unit
Greece: Athens and Lamia Prosecutor's Offices, Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage
Italy: Rome Prosecutor's Office, Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage

The operation highlights the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating antiquities trafficking and the illegal trade in cultural goods, leading to the recovery of thousands of valuable objects and the dismantling of one of the largest rings in Europe.