Greek Policeman Smuggles Antiquities Hoard

Greek Police Officers Photo: George Laoutaris via Flickr

 

A Greek police officer and eight other individuals have been accused of smuggling a vast hoard of stolen antiquities, the very antiquities, as it turns out, the officer was charged with protecting.

According to Tengri News,  an over 2,000 year old statue by Praxiteles worth an estimated €1 million was among the stolen goods. The sculptor was active in the fourth century BC. The approximately two feet tall piece was recovered from one of no fewer than ten sites where the band of smugglers had stashed artifacts.

Nine individuals in total were charged including the 49-year-old-policeman and a 52-year-old antiques dealer from Athens. However six of them, ranging in age from 32 to 70 remain at large.


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