Five arrested in France over Middle East antiquities trafficking
French art police have arrested five art experts as part of an investigation into the looting of antiquities from a number of Middle East countries.
A source told The Art Newspaper that the investigation involved "the sale of hundreds of pieces for tens of millions of euros" from Syria, Egypt, Yemen and areas formerly controlled by the Islamic State (IS) group.
A former curator from the Louvre Museum in Paris and an employee of the Pierre Berge & Associes auction house are among those being held, said the source.
Until they are charged, French police can only hold the suspects - whose names cannot be disclosed for legal reasons - in custody until Friday morning.
The suspects are part of a network of professionals involving art dealers, experts and international museums.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
They were arrested as part of a judicial investigation opened in February, according to French media.
A preliminary investigation had been opened in July 2018, whose results were transmitted to judges on 7 February to investigating judges as part of a broader judicial investigation into the concealment of theft in organised gangs, money laundering, forgery and use of forgery as well as the omission of mention by the seller on the register of movable objects.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
