In a significant move to combat illegal trafficking of cultural heritage, the Manhattan district attorney’s office orchestrated a repatriation ceremony at the Italian consulate in New York on October 10, returning nineteen looted antiquities to Italian authorities. The value of these artifacts is estimated to be nearly $19 million.

These seized antiquities are key components of ongoing investigations into the illicit trade of looted antiquities, implicating several art dealers, including Robin Symes, who is currently under investigation in the UK for trafficking goods. Additionally, the late dealer Jerome Eisenberg and the Royal-Athena Galleries he directed are part of these investigations. Symes, in particular, has had numerous looted antiquities seized, including 266 objects recently returned to Italy. Since 2017, the Manhattan district attorney’s office has successfully recovered 125 looted items from the Royal-Athena Galleries.

This recent repatriation event marks a milestone in the tenure of Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, who has been in office for two years. Since assuming his position, the office has made notable strides in returning looted antiquities, with a focus on Italy. A total of 275 items have been repatriated to Italy, and over 1,000 objects have been returned to 27 countries in this time frame. This achievement has been made possible through collaborative efforts with US Homeland Security investigations.

Speaking about the ongoing efforts, District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated, “Italy has been an epicenter of organized antiquities looting for decades, but we continue to undo the damage thanks to our incredible team of investigators, analysts, and prosecutors.” The commitment to repatriate stolen cultural heritage is vital in preserving the rich history and legacy of nations and fostering international collaboration in the fight against illicit trade in art and antiquities.