Greek Policeman Smuggles Antiquities Hoard

Greek Police Officers Photo: George Laoutaris via Flickr
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.


Follow Artnet News on Facebook:


Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.

Share

Article topics
Subscribe or log in to read the rest of this content.

You are currently logged into this Artnet News Pro account on another device. Please log off from any other devices, and then reload this page continue. To find out if you are eligible for an Artnet News Pro group subscription, please contact [email protected]. Standard subscriptions can be purchased on the subscription page.

Log In