India: US returns 307 stolen antiquities worth almost $4 million

After 15 years of investigations, the US authorities returned 307 antiquities valued at nearly $4 million — that were stolen by multiple smaller trafficking networks — to India, according to a press statement released on Monday.

On Monday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L Bragg Jr announced that the country was returning 307 antiquities, most of which were seized from disgraced art dealer Subhash Kapoor.

Kapoor is a smuggler, who had helped transfer the items from Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other countries, into the US.

The statement read:

"Five of the antiquities were seized according to the Office's investigation into Nancy Wiener, and one according to an investigation into Nayef Homsi."

All the antiquities were returned during a repatriation ceremony at the Indian Consulate in New York, attended by India's Consul General Randhir Jaiswal, and US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Deputy Special Agent-in-Charge, Tom Lau.

"We are proud to return hundreds of stunning pieces to the people of India," the press statement quoted District Attorney Bragg as saying.

"These antiquities were stolen by multiple complex and sophisticated trafficking rings — the leaders of which showed no regard for the cultural or historical significance of these objects."

Tracking down these antiquities would not be possible without the collaboration of our law enforcement partners at HSI and the outstanding work of our world-class investigators," he added.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso said:

"Today we are proud to join our partners from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office to return an incredible 307 stolen works of art and antiquities to their rightful home in India."

"This repatriation is the result of a globe-spanning, fifteen-year investigation whereas the investigative team chased leads, followed the money and ultimately seized these pieces, ensuring their return to the people of India," he explained.

He further added that the HSI would continue to investigate artefacts with little or no provenance (or of questionable origin), and work with domestic and international partners to return these priceless pieces of history to their rightful homes, the statement read.

In 2022 alone, the Office has returned 682 antiquities valued at over $84 million, to 13 countries. Since its founding, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit has returned nearly 2,200 antiquities, valued at over $160 million, to 22 countries.