In a new achievement reflecting the Egyptian state's commitment to protecting its heritage and preserving its civilizational identity, and in implementation of the directives of the President of the Republic in this regard, Egypt has successfully recovered 36 Egyptian artifacts from the United States of America that had been smuggled out of the country illegally.
The recovery operation was completed through strenuous efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, represented by the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), in full coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, the International Cooperation Department at the Egyptian Public Prosecution Office, and all relevant security and regulatory authorities within the Arab Republic of Egypt.
An archaeological committee from the Supreme Council of Antiquities received the pieces for deposition at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, where they will be prepared for restoration and displayed according to the museum's exhibition scenario.
This achievement is also the fruit of constructive cooperation with the competent US authorities, particularly the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, within the framework of the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Egypt and the United States concerning the protection and recovery of artifacts.
Mr. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, pointed out that the recovery of these artifacts affirms the Egyptian state's steadfast commitment to protecting its heritage, preserving its civilizational assets, and recovering its antiquities that were illegally exported. He commended the fruitful cooperation between Egyptian and American national institutions, which reflects a growing awareness of the importance of combating illicit trafficking in cultural and archaeological properties and protecting human heritage. He further stressed the continuation of efforts to retrieve every piece illegally taken from Egypt.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the recovery of this collection represents a new step in a series of achievements realized through the systematic scientific and legal work pursued by the Egyptian state in the artifact recovery file. He added that "these pieces are not merely historical possessions, but living evidence of a civilization built by Egyptians over thousands of years, and their return to the homeland is the culmination of diligent efforts and effective international cooperation."
Mr. Shaaban Abdel Gawad, Director-General of the Department of Recovered Antiquities and Supervisor of the Central Administration of Archaeological Ports at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that the recovered pieces included three main groups:
The first group comprised 11 artifacts handed over by the New York District Attorney's Office, including a mummy mask of a young man from the Roman era, a vessel in the form of the deity "Bes," and a limestone funerary stele from the Roman era.
The second group consisted of 24 rare manuscripts with Coptic and Syriac writings, which were handed over by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) to the Egyptian Consulate in New York as a voluntary initiative.
The third group consists of a colored plaster plaque from the 18th Dynasty, which was confiscated by the New York District Attorney's Office after its illegal exit from Egypt was proven.
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