Egypt Recovers 25 Smuggled Ancient Artifacts from the United States

In a significant step toward preserving Egypt’s cultural heritage, the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration partcipated in the official procedures of the committee responsible for receiving repatriated antiquities—jointly formed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

This move comes as part of ongoing efforts directed by the Minister to recover smuggled Egyptian artifacts from abroad. Through close coordination with the Egyptian Consulate General in New York, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs successfully secured the shipment of 25 rare and illegally trafficked antiquities, each of considerable historical and artistic value. These pieces span various periods of ancient Egyptian civilization.

In his remarks, Minister Abdel Aati emphasized the importance Egypt places on the restitution of its looted heritage, applauding the persistent efforts of Egyptian embassies and consulates abroad.

Moreover, he acknowledged the collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Office of the Egyptian Public Prosecutor, and other relevant state bodies in safeguarding Egypt’s cultural wealth.

The recovered collection includes stone and wooden sarcophagus lids, funerary masks made of pottery and gilded wood, a large alabaster vessel, and a Fayum mummy portrait depicting a woman in a remarkably lifelike Greco-Roman style. The artifacts also comprise various pieces of jewelry crafted from different metals, a rare gold coin from the reign of Ptolemy I, and small statues made of bronze and stone that reflect diverse aspects of ancient Egyptian religious beliefs and artistry.

The successful recovery was made possible through a joint effort involving the Egyptian Consulate General in New York, the New York District Attorney’s Office, and U.S. law enforcement agencies. The process also included extensive negotiations with private individuals who possessed some of the items, supported by the Cultural Affairs Sector at Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The initiative highlights the results of effective coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and all concerned authorities in Egypt. Egyptian missions abroad continue to work diligently to ensure the return of antiquities that were removed from the country through illicit means.