Lebanon returns 37 artefacts smuggled out of Egypt six years ago

Lebanon has returned 37 artefacts to Egypt that were smuggled out of the country six years ago. A ceremony was held at the National Museum of Beirut in the Lebanese capital on Wednesday to celebrate the handover of the artefacts, which date back to the pharaonic civilisation, commonly referred to as ancient Egypt. Lebanon’s Culture Minister Ghassan Salame stated, "After investigating the identity and ownership of these items, it was determined that they belonged to Egypt," during the handover to Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa. Salame emphasized the importance of adhering to the 1970 international convention concerning the prevention of the illicit trafficking of cultural property. The artefacts were seized from the Port of Beirut in 2020, and Lebanon collaborated with INTERPOL, Egypt, and the country’s top public prosecutor to verify the ownership and authenticity of the items. The collection includes masks, wooden dolls, pieces of Coptic textiles, amulets made from glass paste, medium-sized statues, and two wooden coffins decorated with colourful designs. Laura Salloum, an official with Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities, noted that the artefacts had been purchased by a Lebanese national without official documentation confirming their source. Such items are frequently stolen from Egypt. Last month, 48 artefacts were returned to Cairo by the FBI Art Crime Team in the United States. Additionally, Egypt’s official press office announced that its embassy in Bern, Switzerland, had recovered an ancient golden mummy mask with assistance from local authorities.